The Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from the Greatest Speeches in History

By: John R. Hale, The Great Courses

Narrated by: John R. Hale

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Being a great public speaker can put you on the pathway to success, whether you're looking to teach, inform, persuade, or defend an idea. Yet many of us live in fear of public speaking. We experience stage fright or believe that speeches are best left to those with more intuitive talent. But nothing could be further from the truth.

As you'll learn in these 12 invaluable lectures, all it takes is confidence, practice, and the knowledge of techniques and strategies used by history's greatest public speakers, from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, Jr.

This insider's look at public speaking shows you three key components to help you succeed in any situation:

• How to prepare for public speaking: Learn from Patrick Henry and others how to overcome stage fright, control your voice, use humor, and personalize your delivery.
• How to craft a great speech: Learn how to build captivating speeches from people such as Susan B. Anthony and how to use stories, examples, logic, and impressive visual images.
• How to handle your audience: Learn from Gandhi and others how to focus on your audience, invite them to share your vision, and inspire them to change.

Whether you want to finally become the confident public speaker you've always wanted to be or are just looking for fresh advice on how to strengthen your skills, this inspiring course is packed with practical advice to help you learn one of the most important skills in your personal and professional life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

Ask what the greats can teach you

Very interesting look at the art of public speaking by looking at the greats including Gandhi, Churchill, Kennedy, Reagan, King and other from form ancient times for insight on how we can be better in the art. The academician look at the topic was an interesting twist that shows how much of the art is timeless and unchanging.

First rate!!

Definitely one of the top ten of educational books. Highly recommend for anybody seeking to excell in speaking, public speaking and life.

Entertaining and useful

I loved this book as it was entertaining and gave a interesting look at history and the speeches which shaped it. Not only can this book be implemented in everyday life , it is also useful in my doctoral studies as well. I highly suggest this book for self entertainment or as an aid to educational studies.

Exactly What it Aims to Be

Not everyone has reviewed this course so positively, but the problem is a matter of managing expectations. This is an academic course, a series of engaging lectures about the art of speaking and its origins. If you're looking for a "pep talk" course about the speaking industry or a fast path to making a fortune as a motivational speaker, this isn't it. But if you're truly interested in speaking, this course offers insights and examples that will provide insight into great speeches and what makes them work (or not). John Hale has done an excellent job organizing his content and curating historical examples that support his points. His advice is all valuable, and his unspoken message - that serious practitioners of any craft should understand the history and literature that have led to contemporary practice - is worth paying attention to. As a professional speaker, I plan to slowly memorize a handful of Hale's speech selections (Gettysburg Address, Patrick Henry, etc.) and learn to deliver them artfully. If you're a speaker - an art for which there is little academic support - approach this audio book as a student and you'll find plenty of good material to use on the platform.

Fine book.

Where does The Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from the Greatest Speeches in History rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The performance of the speaker in the book was great. The book was divided into 12 half hours lectures, that did i found great.
The book was technical about how a speech is build up, and how to use the diffrent element in a speech.
I will rank this book in the middel of the "self learning" book i have listened to so far.

If you’ve listened to books by The Great Courses before, how does this one compare?

I have not listened to other books in "The Great Courses" before.

Which scene was your favorite?

I did like that the narrator used old speeches, from a lot of famous people, like Martin L. King, Lincoln, Churchill and many more. Then he analyse the speeches to see what was good and what was bad in the speeches.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The book was spilt into 12 half hours lectures, wich made it easy to listen to, and easy to find a spot for pause, if you wanted to do that.

Any additional comments?

I thought that this book was more about, how to make a presentation of some study you have made, more than how a speech is built up and how to use the diffrenrent thing in a speech, but it was OK to hear about, and i learned som new stuff.

Good material

Good stuff, practically and theoretically useful. I wish the author let the readers hear or read the extracts of quoted speeches first, and then hear his comments. Otherwise, we are only left with one option - to hear the famous speeches through the ears and the mind of the lecturer. Other then that, very useful material.

Not what I expected

Overall the content is good. I was expecting a little more prescriptive advice. This was still valuable but you have to dig for the wisdom.

grateful

learned a lot of quality tips for becoming more efficient at public speaking and will apply them right away. after another listen :)

Good for Beginners-Decent Intro to Public Speaking

Would you try another book from The Great Courses and John R. Hale and/or Professor John R. Hale?

Most definitely, yes! Provided it was about one of his other interests, such as archaeology, Ancient Greek/Roman/Viking culture, or some other field he has experience in.

Would you recommend The Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from the Greatest Speeches in History to your friends? Why or why not?

Only if they have very minimal experience in public speaking.

Which character – as performed by Professor John R. Hale – was your favorite?

The main issue I had with this course was Prof. Hale performed too many of the speeches himself. I understand some of the speeches were given before recording equipment existed, and I understand him reiterating those speeches, himself. However, I feel other speeches, like the Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, would have had a better impact if recordings of those speeches were played, instead of Prof. Hale performing them. To be fair, he did play a few recordings, including one from President JFK, but I wish other speeches had been selected that could have been played as recordings, to hear them given by the original source.

Could you see The Art of Public Speaking: Lessons from the Greatest Speeches in History being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Sure, you could make a documentary about speeches.

Any additional comments?

This is not a bad lecture series, and it was a relatively easy listen. However, with respect to the subject matter, don't expect to learn anything new if you already have experience giving public speeches. As a heads up, you won't actually hear many speeches from the people who gave them, as they are mostly performed by Prof. Hale; which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

I listen to this Great Courses on public speaking

I listen to this course on public speaking 2x in preparation for a professional presentation ideas in front of about 300 people. I feel very comfortable now going out to try to do my job I feel very prepared