The best 20 Presentations & Public Speaking books

Presentations and public speaking are essential skills in today's professional landscape. Whether you're delivering a pitch, presenting at a conference, or speaking to a large audience, effective communication is key to success. Our book list is here to help you master these skills.

This list offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to help you enhance your presentation abilities and boost your confidence in public speaking. From crafting compelling narratives to engaging your audience, we've got you covered. So, let's empower your communication skills and start this transformative journey!
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1
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Carmine Gallo
4.7 (156 ratings)

What's The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs about?

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs (2009) explains how any presenter can be as convincing and inspiring as the legendary Steve Jobs. From planning to rehearsal and delivery, Carmine Gallo details the anatomy of a great presentation.

Who should read The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs?

  • Anyone who holds presentations at work, school or in their free time
  • Communication professionals who want to engage their audiences more fully
  • Anyone who is interested in Steve Jobs’s presentation techniques

2
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff

Pitch Anything

Oren Klaff
An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal
4.3 (258 ratings)

What's Pitch Anything about?

Pitch Anything (2011) introduces a unique, new method for pitching ideas. Through psychology, neuroscience and personal anecdotes, Klaff explains the tactics and techniques needed to successfully pitch anything to anyone.

Who should read Pitch Anything?

  • Anyone whose job involves selling products or ideas
  • Anyone trying to raise money from investors
  • Anyone interested in a method of persuasion based on neuroscience and psychology

3
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane

The Charisma Myth

Olivia Fox Cabane
How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
4.2 (421 ratings)

What's The Charisma Myth about?

The Charisma Myth (2013) defies the popular notion that charisma is inherited, arguing instead that everyone can cultivate their own charisma, and in doing so can have a more positive attitude, find more success, and handle obstacles more successfully.

Using wide-ranging examples of charismatic people, from state leaders to CEOs to employees, the book also outlines the different styles of charisma and how to practice demonstrating each, and offers some useful tools and exercises with which to improve their psychological well-being.

Who should read The Charisma Myth?

  • Anyone who wants to know what constitutes charisma
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to become more charismatic

4
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Pitch Perfect by Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman

Pitch Perfect

Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman
How to Say it Right the First Time, Every Time
4.1 (98 ratings)

What's Pitch Perfect about?

Pitch Perfect presents advice and principles that can help anyone to communicate more effectively. It teaches you how to present an argument or story with confidence, in a memorable way, and how to make your points with more precision. The author introduces seven principles that will help you to use exactly the right tone in both your professional and private life.

Who should read Pitch Perfect?

  • Anyone who wants to improve their presentation skills
  • Anyone who wants to communicate more effectively in their professional life
  • Anyone who wishes to become a better conversationalist

5
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Lead with a Story by Paul Smith

Lead with a Story

Paul Smith
A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives that Captivate, Convince and Inspire
4.2 (92 ratings)

What's Lead with a Story about?

Lead with a Story (2012) teaches you how to enhance your skills as a great leader by harnessing the power of storytelling. By taking examples from one of the most successful companies in the world, you’ll learn how to craft a great story that motivates people and modifies their behavior.

Who should read Lead with a Story?

  • Leaders of all kinds
  • Anyone who wants to be better at motivating others
  • Anyone who finds his or her coworkers dozing off during presentations

6
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo

Talk Like TED

Carmine Gallo
The Nine Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds
4.6 (375 ratings)

What's Talk Like TED about?

In Talk like TED (2014), you’ll learn about presentation strategies used by the world’s most influential public speakers. Author Carmine Gallo analyzed more than 500 TED talks to identify common features that make these talks so influential and appealing.

Who should read Talk Like TED?

  • Anyone interested in founding a start-up
  • Anyone interested in giving effective, memorable presentations
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to sell themselves better

7
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Brief by Joseph McCormack

Brief

Joseph McCormack
Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less
4.4 (122 ratings)

What's Brief about?

Brief (2014) is a guide to having more impact and influence by saying less. These blinks show the reader the power of brevity in the information age, explain the barriers to being brief and give helpful instructions on how to improve your communication while saving your own time and everybody else’s.

Who should read Brief?

  • Anyone interested in improving their communication skills
  • Those wanting to grab the attention of others
  • Business leaders whose ideas need to stand out

8
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

How to Talk to Anyone

Leil Lowndes
92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships
4.2 (2,671 ratings)

What's How to Talk to Anyone about?

How To Talk to Anyone (1998) is an indispensable guide to improving your conversations and becoming more graceful and effective in your social interactions – no matter the situation. Leil Lowndes offers readers a treasure trove of techniques and tips that will help any socially awkward individual gain more confidence in workplace environments, meetings, their private lives and at parties.

Who should read How to Talk to Anyone?

  • Businesspeople who want fantastic working relationships
  • Readers looking for better ways to communicate with their partners
  • Awkward folk who’d like to improve their social skills

9
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks

Storyworthy

Matthew Dicks
Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
4.2 (270 ratings)

What's Storyworthy about?

Storyworthy (2018) explains how to craft a story for maximum impact. From intriguing beginnings to satisfying endings and everything in between, these blinks provide simple and effective tips and techniques for engaging your audience and bringing entertainment, authenticity and immediacy to your storytelling.

Who should read Storyworthy?

  • Anyone wanting to improve their storytelling skills.
  • People looking to get better at public speaking.
  • Shy wallflowers wanting to brush up on their communication skills.

10
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Don't Take Yes for an Answer by Steve Herz

Don't Take Yes for an Answer

Steve Herz
Using Authority, Warmth, and Energy to Get Exceptional Results
4.5 (86 ratings)

What's Don't Take Yes for an Answer about?

Don’t Take Yes for an Answer (2020) identifies why some people consistently achieve career breakthroughs, while others struggle to reach their potential. By adopting an attitude of continual self-improvement and learning three crucial communication skills, you can achieve exceptional results, regardless of your field.

Who should read Don't Take Yes for an Answer?

  • Ambitious employees who are trying to land promotions
  • Underdogs seeking a breakthrough
  • Aspiring advocates who want to inspire others

11
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Communicate with Mastery by J. D. Schramm with Kara Levy

Communicate with Mastery

J. D. Schramm with Kara Levy
Speak With Conviction and Write for Impact
4.4 (168 ratings)

What's Communicate with Mastery about?

Communicate with Mastery (2020) is a practical guide for senior leaders wishing to improve their communication skills. It provides actionable advice and useful strategies to become an influential speaker and a compelling writer.

Who should read Communicate with Mastery?

  • Business leaders
  • Entrepreneurs
  • People who want to improve their communication skills

12
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Get Hired Now! by Ian Siegel

Get Hired Now!

Ian Siegel
How to Accelerate Your Job Search, Stand Out, and Land Your Next Great Opportunity
4.4 (225 ratings)

What's Get Hired Now! about?

Get Hired Now! (2021) provides a step-by-step guide to finding a job and getting hired. It covers how to find the right job vacancies, write a first-class résumé that gets past the robots, dress and perform well at interviews, and how to negotiate that job offer!

Who should read Get Hired Now!?

  • Job seekers looking to up their game
  • Anyone who needs to know how to write a fit-for-purpose résumé
  • Interviewees who want to ace their job interviews

13
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: The Art of Rhetoric by Aristotle

The Art of Rhetoric

Aristotle
4.6 (419 ratings)

What's The Art of Rhetoric about?

The Art of Rhetoric (4th century BCE) is a practical manual on the art of public speaking and persuasion. Written almost 2,500 years ago, The Art of Rhetoric remains one of the most incisive and comprehensive studies on rhetoric ever written.

Who should read The Art of Rhetoric?

  • Amateur orators who need to prepare for an upcoming speech
  • Businesspeople who frequently speak in meetings
  • Anyone who has an interest in the classics of western thought

14
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Win Every Argument by Mehdi Hasan

Win Every Argument

Mehdi Hasan
The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
4.2 (652 ratings)

What's Win Every Argument about?

Win Every Argument (2023) is a guide to the art of argument by one of the world’s most combative debaters: journalist, anchor, and writer Mehdi Hasan. Drawing on ancient theories of persuasion, neuroscientific theories of cognition, and the rhetorical tricks of contemporary politicians, Hasan reveals the secrets to winning arguments in today’s post-factual world.

Who should read Win Every Argument?

  • Natural-born arguers and debaters
  • Anyone interested in the art of persuasion
  • Public speakers and politicos

15
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Pitch Like Hollywood by Peter Desberg and Jeffrey Davis

Pitch Like Hollywood

Peter Desberg and Jeffrey Davis
What You Can Learn from the High-Stakes Film Industry
4.1 (182 ratings)

What's Pitch Like Hollywood about?

Pitch Like Hollywood (2022) uncovers the secret ingredients behind the successful techniques used to pitch films and TV shows in Hollywood. Luckily, it doesn’t matter what industry you work in – the principles behind the Hollywood pitch can be universally applied. By harnessing the power of storytelling and the psychology of persuasion, you can pitch literally anything to anyone.

Who should read Pitch Like Hollywood?

  • Founders looking to up their pitching game
  • Film buffs curious as to how things get funded in Hollywood
  • Anyone who suffers from stage fright

16
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Good Arguments by Bo Seo

Good Arguments

Bo Seo
How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard
4.6 (401 ratings)

What's Good Arguments about?

Good Arguments (2022) is one part memoir, one part guide to the art of speaking. It introduces us to the thrilling and eccentric subculture of competitive debate and distills its secrets into timeless principles for effective communication. If we can only learn to disagree better, it argues, we can improve our relationships and revitalize our democracies.

Who should read Good Arguments?

  • Couples who want to communicate more effectively
  • Introverts who want to climb out of their shell
  • Anyone who wants to speak more persuasively

17
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Presentation Advantage by Kory Kogon, Breck England and Julie Schmidt

Presentation Advantage

Kory Kogon, Breck England and Julie Schmidt
How to Inform and Persuade Any Audience
4.6 (315 ratings)

What's Presentation Advantage about?

The Presentation Advantage (2015) gives you the strategies you need to connect with your audience and get the results you want. Presentation happens everywhere from the boardroom to a first date. How you present yourself has everything to do with how much success you’ll achieve.

Who should read Presentation Advantage?

  • Anyone hoping to advance their career
  • People nervous about public speaking
  • Marketers, managers, and entrepreneurs

18
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Magic Words by Jonah Berger

Magic Words

Jonah Berger
What to Say to Get Your Way
4.6 (1,304 ratings)

What's Magic Words about?

Magic Words (2023) teaches you how to use the power of language to achieve your goals. Want to win an argument, nail a job interview, or get your child to clean up after themselves? This guide reveals the magical yet scientifically proven words that may make all the difference.

Who should read Magic Words?

  • People interested in psychology and language
  • Anyone wondering which words to use to market themselves or their product
  • Anyone who wants to become better at (public) speaking

19
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication by John C. Maxwell

The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication

John C. Maxwell
Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message
4.5 (494 ratings)

What's The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication about?

The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication (2023) addresses the fear of public speaking. It offers tried-and-true techniques that can transform any beginner or average speaker into a trusted and effective communicator.

Who should read The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication?

  • Anyone trying to improve their communication skills
  • Speakers addressing anyone from small groups to stadium crowds
  • Leaders and organizers looking to inspire their teams

20
Presentations & Public Speaking Books: Writing for Busy Readers by Todd Rogers & Jessica Lasky-Fink

Writing for Busy Readers

Todd Rogers & Jessica Lasky-Fink
Communicate More Effectively in the Real World
4.1 (11 ratings)

What's Writing for Busy Readers about?

Writing for Busy Readers (2023) is a guide to writing effectively in the digital age. Based on research in behavioral science, it provides you with six principles for writing messages that are clear, concise, and engaging – even for busy readers.

Who should read Writing for Busy Readers?

  • Digital content writers aiming to enhance their work’s readability
  • Anyone who wants to write more effectively
  • Aspiring writers seeking modern guidance

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Presentations & Public Speaking Books
 FAQs 

What's the best Presentations & Public Speaking book to read?

While choosing just one book about a topic is always tough, many people regard The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs as the ultimate read on Presentations & Public Speaking.

What are the Top 10 Presentations & Public Speaking books?

Blinkist curators have picked the following:
  • The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo
  • Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
  • The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
  • Pitch Perfect by Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman
  • Lead with a Story by Paul Smith
  • Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo
  • Brief by Joseph McCormack
  • How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
  • Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks
  • Don't Take Yes for an Answer by Steve Herz

Who are the top Presentations & Public Speaking book authors?

When it comes to Presentations & Public Speaking, these are the authors who stand out as some of the most influential:
  • Carmine Gallo
  • Oren Klaff
  • Olivia Fox Cabane
  • Bill McGowan and Alisa Bowman
  • Paul Smith