The How of WOW: A Guide to Giving a Speech That Will Positively Blow 'Em Away

By Tony Carlson

"Have you ever given a speech that people remembered ten years later? Is ten days more like it, or even ten minutes? Even if you're one of the blessed few who are cool, comfortable, and confident at... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814472516
• ISBN13: 9780814472514
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Amacom Books
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Breath of Fresh Air on the "How-to-Speak" Circuit

Most How-to-Speak books are ridiculously predictable, full of advice that is either impractical to implement or so obvious as to be insulting to one's intelligence. But Tony's "How to Wow" is a delightful exception. I found myself nodding enthusiastically with almost all of his advice, mentally congratulating myself for having suspected the same things, but being a bit intimidated by the less-sensible voices in the field. So much of Tony's philosophies run alongside my own in that you should Trust Your Gut. Be Yourself, and don't insult your audience's intelligence. Brilliant stuff, yet oh-so-common sensical. I read a lot of how-to books and usually just walk away with some nuggets of, ahem, wisdom that give me great material to debate (or even ridicule) in my own writings. But Tony's book offers true wisdom. Thanks, Tony, for writing it!

Help end the epidemic of chronically-bad communications - this book is the cure!

One of the greatest anonymous quotes ever written is, "Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand." The reality of this quote is evidenced in the sleep-inducing meetings, presentations, conferences and speeches we all endure every day. Research has found that within 30 minutes of a presentation, 99.98% of a given audience has forgotten what they've heard. It's obvious that we suffer from epidemic levels of chronically-bad communication and paralyzing PowerPoint presentations. However, in his book titled - "The How of Wow" - communications expert Tony Carlson explains how anyone can learn to deliver dynamic presentations that leave a lasting impact on listeners. Soundview likes this book because Carlson shares ways to build empathy and respect with an audience; command attention; craft a compelling message and develop a larger than life stage presence. These strategies and tactics that Carlson shares offer invaluable benefit to any communication - and can't we all benefit from more valuable communications?

Lively lessons on public speaking

To deliver a memorable speech you need a combination of the right words and a great performance. Both are crucial, but performance often makes the difference between a mediocre presentation and an exceptional one. Author Tony Carlson has written a useful book on how to prepare and deliver a speech to achieve maximum impact on your audience. He covers all the details, from manuscript preparation to rehearsal techniques to post-speech follow-up. He writes in a witty, flowing style, and he includes invaluable anecdotes, useful checklists and a section on dealing with speechwriters. While "wowing" today's skeptical audiences is no easy task, Carlson's tips will help you get listeners on your side. We recommend this book to professionals who want to sharpen their speaking skills, speechwriters and anyone involved in corporate communication.

Unconventional Helper for Memorable Speeches

As a regular trade speaker, I found Tony's book to be a powerful helper in the crafting and delivery of speeches that will create lasting impressions. Breaking the boundaries of PowerPoint-constrained presentations, The How of Wow will help apprentice speakers as well as seasoned orators to better connect with their audience. People crave for stories they can relate to, and Tony's experience will help most speakers deliver them in the most engaging ways.

Light, valuable reading for corporate speechmakers

As an active professional speaker, I have far too many opportunities to witness well-meaning corporate executives damage their reputations by delivering speeches that are lame and embarrassing, using presentation styles that are as inappropriate as their talking about the topic to begin with. As I shake my head in wonder, I contemplate whether any of these people ever read a book on what speech-making is all about. If they were to search for such a book, The How of Wow would certainly meet their needs. The author has written speeches, delivered speeches, critiqued speeches, and enjoyed the journey of coaching executives how to present their ideas-and their ideals-in public. This book is not quite what you might expect it to be. It is not a rah-rah volume, nor it is a step-by-step handbook for writing and delivering a speech. Rather, Carlson's book is a lighthearted look at one of the biggest fears harbored by men and women in today's business world. In an unusual approach for a book on this topic, Carlson begins by asking why the reader should even care about giving a blow `em away speech. Then, part two challenges whether you should even accept the invitation. Not all opportunities are right, so be careful. In the third section of the book, Carlson digs into how to think about what you will say...and why. Preparation gives you strength, as in part four you settle into the writing phase. Craft the story, make the connection, Carlson advises repeatedly. Then, to demonstrate, he does exactly that in these pages. You'll learn more about hooks to connect with your audience than you ever thought existed. The writing section explores ways to build simplicity-much more effective in speechmaking than complexity. You'll learn about language, quotations, and words and phrases that detract from, rather than contribute to, the positive influence of the speech. The last section of the book takes us into the actual presentation, with a follow-up emphasis on going beyond merely the basic strength of the speech itself. The supplemental questions at the end of the chapters is exceeded only by appendices that take you deeper into the knowledge base of speech-writing. Well-directed toward executives; value for professional speakers, as well.