I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 142 ratings

Price: 13.13

Last update: 07-13-2024


Top reviews from the United States

Louis B. Quinto
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read! A Unique Perspective on Communicating
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2020
I finished reading “I Have Something To Say” earlier last week. Having spent 30 years teaching presentation skills to executives and political candidates and making “presenting” my career I was thoroughly entertained. I loved the way John weaves his “lesson-by-lesson” Toastmaster training with recollections of situations in his life - from breaking up with… Barbara, to walking the streets of NYC with “Bumper” and getting the inside scoop to individual panhandling presentation techniques. John's wit and mastery of prose drew me in quickly and even taught a veteran presenter like me some new things. My favorite chapter was “Facts Are Stupid Things.” The battle one goes through of which sources to use with an audience is something I struggle with because each audiences’ perception of what they view as “fake news” is never-ending. That chapter alone is the subject for a book to address part of the problem of why we as a country are so divided.
Gail Ballard
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but...
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2021
I put this book on my Kindle, and though I have not finished it yet, feel quite confident in recommending it. If you don't need to make speeches as a general habit, it will still be very useful in every day conversations and most certainly at your job.

Only "bad" thing is that there are words used frequently that I've never heard of, and I am a clever person. Sometimes a section is over my head! But learning new worda is not a bad thing.
Mario J. Bryson
5.0 out of 5 stars Learn how to speak in front of people.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
Just what I needed.
Graham Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars Not only a page-turner but also extremely helpful...
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
I've done a great deal of public speaking, including two main-stage TED talks, yet my day to day responsibilities took a backseat as I devoured this book. John weaves the personal, vulnerable story of his metamorphosis from a terrified, disconnected and ineffective public speaker to a confident, connecting and persuasive one while explaining the fascinating history and science around rhetoric and its critical importance in our digital, disconnected, fake-news society. This book was not only a pleasure to read, it also has prompted me to re-evaluate the importance and technique of how I converse, how I present and how I listen. This will be required reading in not only any course dealing with public speaking but also any dealing with communication in general.
Eric Patton
5.0 out of 5 stars Really Inspiring and Helpful!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2020
As someone with a nearly lifelong fear of public speaking, I found Bowe's journey through Toastmasters to be both fascinating and encouraging. I had largely given up on ever being comfortable speaking in public, relying on a mixture of semi-successful mind tricks and numbing medications when required to do it. Bowe's gripping account of his time with Toastmasters, along with enlightening details on the topic from philosophy and psychology, actually give me some hope that I can tackle this persistent challenge. Because I have plenty to say as well!
getting (watchful)
4.0 out of 5 stars Written in Scholar’s Terminology
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2022
An interesting yet challenging read, as continual pausing to either deeply ponder, or look up meanings.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars To improve your speech and listening skills, Read this book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021
This book was very well written. The background experience that went into meeting all the different people, seeing different places, the personal accounts from both the author and others he interviewed. I would highly recommend anyone reading this book!!
Bernie T
3.0 out of 5 stars not a how to
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
This is more a biography, with emphasis on the writer’s experience with the Toastmasters club. Not particularly useful or practical, until the writer, almost as a afterthought, inserts some “tips” IN THE APPENDIX. Pretty standard advice.

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