“TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking” by Chris Anderson made its way onto my reading list a while ago and I finally made some time to dig into it in the last month. And OK, this isn’t strictly athletic. In fact, it’s more geared towards the fact that I’m both organizing a speaker series in Collingwood, ON, at a theater in town and I’m going to speak at it: How To Be Outside Speaker Series for more details about that. I’ve also been doing a lot more talks at schools to kids around Shred Girls, but more around getting kids active and excited about different things that they’re passionate about. So basically, this book may not be an athletic guide, but like my most recent book, The Athlete’s Guide to Sponsorship, it has lessons that are must-learns for people in my field. And it does have some great takeaways for anyone, not just public speakers!
For example: “An idea is anything that can change how people see the world. If you can conjure up a compelling idea in people’s minds, you have done something wondrous. You have given them a gift of incalculable value. In a very real sense, a little piece of you has become part of them.”
I’m enjoying it quite a bit, and bonus, it recommends a lot of great TED Talks to watch, so if you’re like me and don’t watch a lot of online video, this kind of helps offer suggestions of the must-watch ones that have done the best.
About the book: 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-read for anyone who is ready to create impact with their ideas.
Get it here (and good news, it’s free if you have Kindle Unlimited!)
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