TED Talks

The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking

By: Chris Anderson

Narrated by: Chris Anderson, Tom Rielly, Kelly Stoetzel

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times Bestseller

“Catnip for all the TED fans out there.” —Publishers Weekly

“The most insightful book ever written on public speaking…a must-read.” —Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals

Since taking over TED in 2001, Chris Anderson has shown how carefully crafted talks can be the key to unlocking empathy, spreading knowledge, and promoting a shared dream. Done right, a talk can electrify a room and transform an audience’s worldview; it can be more powerful than anything in written form.

This “invaluable guide” (Publishers Weekly) explains how the miracle of powerful public speaking is achieved, and equips you to give it your best shot. There is no set formula, but there are tools that can empower any speaker.

Chris Anderson has worked with all the TED speakers who have inspired us the most, and here he shares insights from such favorites as Sir Ken Robinson, Salman Khan, Monica Lewinsky, and more—everything from how to craft your talk’s content to how you can be most effective on stage. This is a must-listen for anyone who is ready to create impact with their ideas.

©2016 Chris Anderson (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

A TED Talk It Is Not!

Any additional comments?

TED Talks are short, pointed and highly informative, this book is neither short or pointed. To be fair, it is informative. I expected a "how to" book and was disappointed not to find that. While the book contains a tremendous number of pointers, all completely accurate, relevant, and worth knowing, it doesn't provide these pointers in a succinct or easily managed way. The book is worthwhile and the author/narrator is passionate and knowledgeable. If one is able to identify within the book someone with a personality like their own they may land on the more correct formula to follow. But so much will require trial and error in live speaking opportunities. I stuck with the book more because I enjoy TED Talks than because of any enjoyment I received from the book. I can easily see the book being the basis of a class on public speaking - a class that I would have gladly taken when I was in college. But alas, sheer willpower and stubbornness are what brought me through to the end.

One of the VERY Best!

Everything about this audiobook is outstanding. The narrator (who is the author) is an amazing example of what the essence of this book is about: compelling, interesting, significant public speaking–for TED, or any other venue. Anyone interesting in public speaking and in making this a better world will enjoy and benefit from hearing it. One of the best of some 700 audiobooks I have listened to. I was so impressed I bought the physical book as well.

Half Public Speaking Tips - Half History of TED

There are some very good public speaking tips and insights to contemplate in this book. The majority of these tips are geared towards giving a TED style talk, but many are applicable towards any type of public speaking engagement. Even for someone who is comfortable with public speaking, or giving presentations, you'll pick up something from this book.

Interspersed throughout the book, the narrator does give somewhat of a history of TED, which is interesting if you are a fan of TED Talks. The history is usually interwoven or tied to some tip on public speaking, making the historical aside relevant to the chapter.

Those who have not seen many TED Talks before may find this book less engaging than those who are more familiar with TED. If you have watched hours of TED Talks there will be references to videos you have probably seen before, which may help reinforce the driving points the book is trying to make. The good news is if you want to watch a Talk mentioned in the book, most are readily available online, making this book a unique interactive show and tell style guide to public speaking.

Excellent tools but loses momentum

The first half of the book was excellent because it provided tools, strategies and examples of how to develop a talk or presentation. The author then transitioned into using technology and finished with global implications of Internet video and compelling talks. I wouldn't recommend the last 2-3 chapters unless that interests you.

Excellent!

This was an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to pursue public speaking, whether it be a TEDtalk, conference presentation, or workshop. I feel much better prepared after listening to this audiobook and feel inspired to share my ideas with the world!

Concise, to the point

I've read quite a few books about presenting and public speaking and this is one of the best

All You'll Ever Need to Know

Would you be willing to try another book from Chris Anderson? Why or why not?

Chris Anderson has a delightful accent that makes his speech a delight to hear. That being said, I think I've heard enough from him to last a lifetime.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from TED Talks?

This is a comprehensive teaching in how to do a spoken presentation, particularly preparing the listener to do a TED Talk-- something like a college course, but without exams. I believe it covered every possible aspect, at least in terms of how we communicate in the first quarter of the 21st century. By the last chapters in the book, I was hoping it would be over soon, but there was too much valuable information included to stop listening.

I hope I absorbed enough of it to take with me and incorporate into rare public speaking opportunities. It did help me take a second & third look at an impending talk and make it better and nudged me into thinking that maybe even I could be good at this.

Get ready for an exciting journey?

Chris does an awesome job getting you excited to share your passions, even if you don't want to actually give a talk. You will be excited to give it a go after reading even a bit of this book. Then Chris proceeds to tell you exactly how to go about writing, rehearsing, and giving the talk. And it's all done within an ongoing story throughout the book. Fun, fun stuff!

THE best book on public speaking

Chris is an amazing, down-to-earth thinker and advisor.
This book is a great guide about public speaking, full of valuable advice, examples and do's and don'ts.
Worth listening to it even more than once. Solid five stars for content, and delivery.
In brief summary: "It's all about the idea" - not you :)
Accept this insight, prepare your talk, rehearse like crazy, and perform it with passion.

The conclusions at the end of the book are also worth savoring and contemplating. Congrats Chris!

Best Guide on TED Talks

The author goes above and beyond in explaining how to give a presentation to a large audience. If you've seen any of the most popular TED Talks, you'll know that the presenters have spent months preparing for an 18-minute presentation and have contingencies for every imaginable obstacle they might encounter, like technical difficulties and lost presentation.

"Dismal Narrative"

Considering the credentials and expectations of the narrator, I was shocked at how poor he came across. He contradicts his methods and delivery in a number of ways. I would not waste any credit on this audio book.

Fresh and innovative

What did you like most about TED Talks?

The book provides some general guidelines for a good presentation; however it underlines that there is no standard recipe for a successful presentation. A successful presentation is always a mix of inspiration and good preparation.

What other book might you compare TED Talks to, and why?

I found the book quite innovative, so I would not compare it with another book.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This is the first book I listen from Chris Anderson. I knew him from his contributions to the WIRED magazine and only recently I heard that he was the key person behind the TED talks. The fact that he keeps a low profile and does not want to advertise himself through his achievements shows a side of his character that is necessary to build trust in his audience.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moving moments had to do mostly with the story of Chris Anderson; how he started the whole idea and his family background.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book for all those who enjoy the TED talks. The book demystifies their success and shows that only hard work is the way out. No standard recipe: just hard work and confidence in what you are doing!

Awful!

Gave up at Chapter 6, could not take any more of the narrators limp, condescending tone.

Much more than a public speaking guide

The narrator's intonation takes a little bit of getting used to but then it's a great insight to improving your public speaking. It highlighted so many pitfalls and potential for errors that at some points made public speaking feel even more daunting! However the book also was very informative in helping you to improve.
I really enjoyed all the tidbits of unrelated but interesting facts from various TED talks that were used as examples, they helped to keep my interest sharp.
The suggestions are helpful in all sorts of areas in life - how to dress, how to deal with nerves, what to do with ideas. It's almost a little tech-age life guidance text.

Inspiring!

This is easily the best book about how to construct and prepare talks and presentation that I've read. And I've read a few! It bottles up 20 years of Chris Anderson's experience curating TED and all the many different types of speakers who've been on that platform - good and bad. A must read for anyone who (like me) writes and edits presentations for other colleagues to deliver.

Good content, poor narration

Unfortunately I couldn't get past the hurried, sometimes unintelligible narration. I am sure the messages in the book are worthwhile and useful as this book was recommended to me. I just couldn't listen to the narrator as his words were too quick and rushed. Disappointing for a book on how to speak publically. Perhaps I'll buy a copy of the book. Perhaps

Grating narrating

Why TED, why? Of all the speakers in all the world, you chose this one.

Great tips

I feel the need to get the actual book to read the tips. Otherwise a great book to listen to.

Very useful information

I found a lot of useful information in this audio version and it was well explained. I didn't feel I wanted to listen from end to end as there is no plot but I will dip in and out of it when I need confidence in speaking in public as it's quite inspiring

highly recommended

Great narrator. Great tips. Funny and enjoyable.
My presentation skills have improved due to listening and implementing the ideas and tips in this book.