Recent Articles in Speaker's Bookshelf
December 21, 2023
Books for Speakers: A Dictionary of Gestures
Resources , Gestures & Body Language , Speaker's Bookshelf
Most presenters we know are keen to improve their gestures, body language, and other nonverbal communication. Here's a book that can open your mind to the possibilities!
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March 3, 2022
Books for Speakers: ‘Making Numbers Count’
Speaker's Bookshelf , Resources , Presentation Tips
As we often say to clients, "no, the numbers do not speak for themselves." Here's a book that looks at how you can make the data you present more accessible for your audiences.
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November 22, 2021
Public Speaking Fears: Look for the Helpers
Strictly Speaking , Public Speaking Fear , Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf
Feeling nervous? Our founder says focusing on the right audience members can help you find your confidence AND make audience support go viral.
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August 31, 2021
Books for Speakers: The Creative Habit
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Seen|Read|Heard
Next time you're subjected to a boring presentation, borrow a few steps from choreographer Twyla Tharp and see what takes shape.
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December 21, 2020
Public Speaking Virtues & Vices: Sarcasm
Virtues & Vices , Strictly Speaking , Speaker's Bookshelf , The Buckley Experience
A sprinkle of sarcasm may delight an audience--but if it's your dominant platform style, you have a problem. Our founder holds forth on how much is too much and what to do about it...
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October 13, 2020
Public Speaking Virtues & Vices: Truculence
Virtues & Vices , Public Speaking , Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf , Strictly Speaking
A speaker who is ferocious or harsh, as our founder so eloquently says, "don't win friends." Here's his field guide to truculent speakers--and what you can do to tame them (if they happen to be you).
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December 11, 2019
Books for Speakers: Toasts
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Toasts , The Buckley Experience
The author of this book once stole a locomotive, so maybe we shouldn't be surprised by his bold promise to help you always say the right thing in the right way. Cheers to that!
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December 21, 2018
Books for Speakers: A biography and a memoir
Public Speaking , Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books
Their public speaking has awed and inspired. Will their life stories give clues to what made their speeches so powerful? We're eager to read two of the hottest books in stores right now...
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December 4, 2018
Speaking in Public: The Art of Public Speaking
Public Speaking , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books , The Buckley Experience , Speaking in Public
All year, we've featured excerpts from Reid Buckley's first book on public speaking. This month, we come to the last chapter ... and some final words to inspire you to create artful presentations.
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November 28, 2018
Books for Speakers: All the King's Men
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Resources , Just For Fun
As the main character changes, so does his public speaking style. What can we learn about persuasive speaking from a novel? Plenty if it's "All the King's Men."
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November 9, 2018
Speaking in Public: Writing to be Heard
30th Anniversary , The Buckley Experience , Public Speaking , Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Speaking in Public
Short sentences make for better speeches, as a rule. Here's what our compound-sentence-loving founder has to say about writing to be heard...
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October 15, 2018
Speaking in Public: Finding & Using Your Natural Strengths
Public Speaking , The Buckley Experience , 30th Anniversary , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books , Resources , Speaking in Public
Understanding your presentation style and making the most of it - The Buckley School's founder on why that's the single most important thing a speaker can do...
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September 20, 2018
Books for Speakers: Bird by Bird
Public Speaking , Alumni , Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf
"Joy just oozes from this book," writes the Buckley alum who recommends it. You'll also find lots of help for using your stories and voice to bring more life (and humor) to speeches and presentations.
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September 10, 2018
Speaking in Public: Reading & Managing the Audience
30th Anniversary , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books , The Buckley Experience , Instruction , Presentation Tips , Speaking in Public
To be unnerved or not to be unnerved? That is the question when facing a murderous room. Tips for how to read audiences and adjust your presentation like a pro...
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August 19, 2018
Speaking in Public: Posture & First Impressions
Resources , Public Speaking , The Buckley Experience , Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Instruction , Speaking in Public
A too-casual style can send unintended messages, says our founder. His tips for starting well and standing tall in your next presentation...
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August 17, 2018
Books for Speakers: The Writer's Art
Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf , Faculty , The Buckley Experience
"Funny, instructive, and it promotes all the same things we promote...how important language is...not just for writers but for all of us." Buckley director Karen Kalutz makes this book recommendation...
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July 29, 2018
Speaking in Public: Lean, Clean Messages
Public Speaking Books , 30th Anniversary , The Buckley Experience , Public Speaking , Speaker's Bookshelf , Speaking in Public
Public speaking benefits when ideas are expressed in lean, clean sentences. Here is Reid Buckley's recipe for unstuffing messages so they're easier to follow...
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July 2, 2018
Books for Speakers: Orators of the American Revolution
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Resources , Public Speaking
The public speaking techniques used by Patrick Henry & Co. are remarkably similar to the ones that can work for you today....
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June 28, 2018
Speaking in Public: How to Use a Lectern
Public Speaking Books , 30th Anniversary , Resources , Public Speaking , The Buckley Experience , Speaker's Bookshelf , Presentation Tips , Speaking in Public
A lectern can be a great home base for a speaker, when used well. Reid Buckley provides a professional speaker's tips and perspective from the podium...
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May 27, 2018
Speaking in Public: Making it Interesting
Public Speaking , The Buckley Experience , 30th Anniversary , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books , Speaking in Public
Spreadsheets? A boat load of data? A little imagination can turn seemingly boring stuff into lively presentations. Here's our founder's take on how to do that...
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May 9, 2018
Books for Speakers: Help! For Writers
Resources , Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf
Even if you ultimately speak from bullet points, writing presentations benefits speakers--because it forces you to work out the very problems this book helps you solve!
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April 20, 2018
Books for Speakers: Lend Me Your Ears
Public Speaking , Resources , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books
Some people read cookbooks for fun. Buckley coaches read anthologies of speeches. Here's one we think you'll enjoy....
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March 31, 2018
Books for Speakers: Woe Is I
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Instruction , Presentation Tips , Resources
One of our favorite guides--smart, easy to follow, and full of fun (yes, really) without any of the harmful side effects that caused you to doze off in middle school...
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February 26, 2018
Rhetorical Device of the Month: Chiasmus
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , Rhetorical Devices , Public Speaking
How do you turn the ideas in your speeches into lines people will remember? One rhetorical device you can use is the literal turn of phrase called chiasmus....
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February 20, 2018
Speaking in Public: Using Humor and Wit
Public Speaking Books , Speaker's Bookshelf , The Buckley Experience , Public Speaking , Presentation Tips , 30th Anniversary , Speaking in Public
Our founder's first book on speaking was "Speaking in Public." As we mark our 30th anniversary, we're sharing excerpts, including Reid's take on adding humor and wit to your public speaking...
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February 2, 2018
Books for Speakers: On Speaking Well
Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking , Resources , Instruction , Public Speaking Books
Oprah's speech at The Golden Globes has our students asking "How did she do that?" Peggy Noonan's excellent book offers some insight...
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January 5, 2018
Speaking in Public: A Grab Bag of Tips
Public Speaking , The Buckley Experience , Speaker's Bookshelf , Public Speaking Books , 30th Anniversary , Instruction , Resources , Speaking in Public
Reid Buckley launched our school with the Executive Seminar and his first book on speaking. As we mark our 30th anniversary, we're publishing excerpts from "Speaking in Public" each month, starting with his infamous guide to color-coding....
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January 3, 2018
Books for Speakers: Presentation Zen
Speaker's Bookshelf , Instruction , Resources , Public Speaking Books , PowerPoint
PowerPoint. Love it? This book's for you. Hate it? This book is REALLY for you.
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December 2, 2017
Books for Speakers: Rhetoric & Persuasion
Speaker's Bookshelf , Instruction , Seen|Read|Heard
Some help to develop your rhetorical superpowers with lessons from Aristotle, Lincoln and Homer (Simpson)...
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November 2, 2017
Books for Speakers: Made to Stick
Speaker's Bookshelf , Instruction , Seen|Read|Heard , Storytelling
Can we recommend a book on speaking? A frequent question--and yes, we can. Quite a few...
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February 17, 2017
Frederick Douglass and The Columbian Orator
Resources , Instruction , Seen|Read|Heard , Speaker's Bookshelf
It’s rare, but every once in a while we do work with someone who brings along a copy of The Columbian Orator. Frederick Douglass began developing his skills as a speaker by reading this popular 19th century textbook. He bought the book while he was still enslaved, a boy of 12 or 13. It was the first book he'd ever owned.
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