Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
Great orators to learn from
2 points by veddox on July 1, 2017 | hide | past | favorite | 1 comment
Hi everyone,

as I do quite a bit of public speaking I have been trying to hone my rhetorical skills. One thing that really helps me is listening to great speeches: "I have a dream", "Yes we can", etc. So I just wanted to ask around which speeches/speakers you would recommend watching or listening to?

I'm also open to reading suggestions, if you know any good books on the subject.

Thanks :-)




This is the best book that I have read. I have gifted many copies. There are 22 chapters, each authored by a professional speaker.

I will paraphrase what one of the professional speakers says in his chapter - the goal is to not get standing ovations and speak to your audience but to speak with your audience.

https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Secrets-Masters-Techniques-P...

The Toastmasters WCPS (World Championships of Public Speaking)

One example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v26CcifgEq4

In case you don't already know the secret of public speaking or storytelling or connecting with people, the secret is vulnerability.

> It takes relationships to make relationships. And, in general, to make relationships, you have to allow vulnerability. Vulnerability is the difference between a conversation that starts, "How about this weather we're having?" and a conversation that starts, "Oh my God, let me tell you about how I just fell in a puddle in front of a group of nuns." The former is so boring that it makes listeners want to crawl under a table; the latter creates a spark and a list of follow-up questions. These are two extreme examples, but generally, the more of yourself you put out there, the more others will have to connect with.

http://www.nerve.com/advice/miss-information/miss-informatio...




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: