10 Must-Read Books to Level-up Your Public Speaking Skills

10 Must-Read Books to Level-up Your Public Speaking Skills

You’re working in Product or Tech and you have tons of stories and learnings to share with others? Why not speak about them at a conference or your local (remote) Meet-up? We believe that the Tech industry is such a great industry because there are so many communities out there that care about sharing and learning. With more and more conferences and events in our field, the need for speakers is rising. Our latest collection of the PM Library features the best books that help you thrive in public speaking, prepare fascinating talks and interesting slides. Don’t worry, there’s lots of great advice out there that will help you become a great speaker in no time!

Talk like TED

Talk like TED

The 9 public speaking secrets of the world’s top minds
by Carmine Gallo

Why read?

Ideas are the true currency of the 21st century, and Talk Like TED gives you a way to create presentations around the ideas that matter most to you, presentations that will energize your audience to spread those ideas, launch new initiatives, and reach your highest goals.

288 pages, 2015

The Breakthrough Speaker

The Breakthrough Speaker

How to Build a Public Speaking Career
by Adam Smiley Poswolsky

Why read?

Public speaking has become an essential life skill. The lessons in this book will help new speakers looking to break into the corporate speaking industry, as well as entrepreneurs, creatives, and influencers who want to gain exposure, build their personal brand, and make a greater impact. This practical guide provides helpful lessons, tools, interviews, and workbook-style exercises for speakers to start earning money from sharing their story.

361 pages, 2018

TED Talks

TED Talks

The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
by Chris Anderson

Why read?

This guide 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.

390 pages, 2016

Unleash the Power of Storytelling

Unleash the Power of Storytelling

Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results
by Rob Biesenbach

Why read?

Why this book? The market is flooded with a dizzying array of books, experts, and resources on business storytelling. This book cuts through the hype to clarify and demystify the storytelling process. Unleash the Power of Storytelling offers step-by-step instructions for finding, shaping and telling powerful stories. You’ll learn about the essential ingredients that go into any good story and how to avoid common storytelling pitfalls.

178 pages, 2018

Speak With No Fear

Speak With No Fear

Go from a nervous, nauseated, and sweaty speaker to an excited, energized, and passionate presenter
by Mike Acker

Why read?

When to read this book? When you think of public speaking, do you get nervous, anxious, or even sweaty? Would you prefer never to give a presentation?Do you want to gain confidence in your communication and beyond? Through this book you will learn 7 strategies you can begin today. These strategies will give you a new perspective, they will prepare you, and they will give you actions to practice. As you implement these strategies, your fear will begin to fade.

181 pages, 2019

The Storyteller’s Secret

The Storyteller’s Secret

From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don’t
by Carmine Gallo

Why read?

In The Storyteller’s Secret, Gallo offers lessons from a range of visionary leaders, each of whom cites storytelling as a crucial ingredient in success. A good story can spark action and passion; it can revolutionize the way people think and spur them to chase their dreams. Isn’t it time you shared yours?

288 pages, 2017

Meaningful

Meaningful

The Story of Ideas That Fly
by Bernadette Jiwa

Why read?

A must read for any entrepreneur or marketer. It’s full of lots of “aha” moments with a concrete tool that you can implement immediately.

176 pages, 2015

How to Deliver a TED Talk

How to Deliver a TED Talk

Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations
by Jeremey Donovan

Why read?

How to Deliver a TED Talk provides more than 100 invaluable tips — everything from opening with an explicit statement of audience benefits to framing your idea as an action-outcome response to a question worth asking. Whether you’re presenting to an audience of 1 or 1,000, this book is an indispensable resource for any public speaker.

240 pages, 2013

How to Own the Room

How to Own the Room

Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
by Viv Groskop

Why read?

Most books about public speaking don’t tell you what to do when you open your mouth and nothing comes out. And they don’t tell you how to get over the performance anxiety that most people naturally have. They don’t tell you what to do in the moments when you are made, as a woman, to feel small. They don’t tell you how to own the room. This book does.

240 pages, 2019

Words That Change Minds

Words That Change Minds

The 14 Patterns for Mastering the Language of Influence
by Shelle Rose Charvet

Why read?

Do you work and live with people who are hard to convince? Who dismiss ideas before even thinking about them?Do you want to know how to influence people, without being manipulative? Want to find out how people get motivated, make decisions, to be more persuasive with everyone? Learn how to use the right words with the right people, and get through the “Communication Wall”

356 pages, 2019