These 11 public speaking books discuss a number of methods and techniques to help you improve your public speaking skills. The books are a mix of both in-depth speaking strategy and storytelling through the difficult journey of learning to speak in public.
There are many articles on public speaking you can find online, however to really learn and understand how to improve, more detailed research needs to be conducted. That’s why these books are great, the authors have put in hundreds of hours of research so you don’t have to.
These books teach you how to speak at conferences and TED events, present at meetings, interact at networking events and much more.
Here’s our compiled list of the best public speaking books (so you don’t have to trawl through a hundred pages of reviews for the best ones!).
Public speaking books
The Art of Public Speaking
STEPHEN LUCAS
This book focuses on the practical skills of public speaking and the contemporary theories of rhetoric. All major aspects of speech preparation and presentation are covered – students learn to internalise the principles of public speaking, build confidence through speech practice, and prepare for success in the classroom and beyond.
Rating: 4.4/5
Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds
CARMINE GALLO
TED brings together the world’s leading thinkers and speakers who inspire people and give them the confidence to overcome their fear of public speaking. This public speaking book reveals the nine secrets of successful TED presentations by going through hundreds of TED talks and interviewing top presenters and researchers.
Rating: 4.6/5
Confessions of a Public Speaker
SCOTT BERKUN
This book provides an insider’s perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. It’s a unique and entertaining story through the embarrassments and triumphs Scott has experienced over 15 years of speaking to crowds of all sizes. You’ll get new insights into the art of persuasion, teaching, learning, and performance.
Rating: 4.4/5
Do You Talk Funny?: 7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better Public Speaker
DAVID NIHILL
The author overcomes his speaking fears by pretending to be an accomplished comedian for a year, while learning from other stand-up comedians about how to speak in public. This public speaking book will teach you how to craft a story your audience will laugh at and want to listen to, as well as helping you master the timing and delivery of your performance.
Rating: 4.6/5
Out With It: How Stuttering Helped Me Find My Voice
KATHERINE PRESTON
After battling with her stutter for 17 years, Katherine travels around America meeting hundreds of stutterers, including celebrities, psychologists, writers, speech therapists and researchers. Her journey helps debunk the misconceptions shrouding the condition that affects 60 million people worldwide, while learning to embrace the voice within.
Rating: 4.7/5
TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
CHRIS ANDERSON
This book explains how the miracle of powerful public speaking is achieved, and equips you to give it your best shot. There is no set formula; no two talks should be the same. The goal is for you to give the talk that only you can give. But don’t be intimidated. You may find it more natural than you think.
Rating: 4.1/5
The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking
DALE CARNEGIE
The book consists of many technique of Effective Public Speaking. The author has transformed public speaking into a life-skill which anyone can develop. The book consists of basic principles of effective speaking, technique of effective speaking, and the 3-aspects of every speech and effective methods of delivering a talk.
Rating: 4.6/5
Speak With No Fear
MIKE ACKER
Throughout this book you will learn 7 strategies for coping with public speaking anxiety. These strategies will give you a new perspective, prepare you, and give you actions to practice. As you implement these strategies, your fear will begin to fade. The 7 strategies include ‘Imagine the Worst’, ‘It’s Not About You’ and ‘Be in the Moment’.
Rating: 4.5/5
Speak like Churchill, Stand like Lincoln
JAMES C. HUMES
Ever wish you could captivate your boardroom with the opening line of your presentation, like Winston Churchill in his most memorable speeches? Or want to command attention much like Abraham Lincoln? Now, you can master presentation skills, wow your audience, and shoot up the corporate ladder by unlocking the secrets of history’s greatest speakers.
Rating: 4.6/5
Think Faster, Talk Smarter
MATT ABRAHAMS
Matt Abrahams, Stanford lecturer, podcast host, and communication expert, offers practical and actionable techniques to empower even the most nervous speakers to excel in spontaneous speaking situations. Abrahams offers evidence-based tactics for handling anxiety, adapting to the atmosphere of the room, and ensuring that content is succinct, pertinent, engaging, and memorable.
Rating: 4.5/5
Charismatic Public Speaking: Passion, Power, Proximity, and Positivity: A History of Charisma with a Practical Application to Leadership
JAVIER BERNAD
Charisma defies precise definition, yet it’s sought after by many. Javier Bernad focuses on refining charisma in public speaking, emphasizing rhetoric’s dual aspects: content and delivery. Exploring the concept’s historical evolution, his book offers practical guidance to embody charisma by mastering Power, Passion, Proximity, and Positivity in communication