Osgood on Speaking: How to Think on Your Feet Without Falling on Your Face

Taking the fear out of public speaking is the aim of this breezy book and, while the number 101 may be hyperbolic, TV anchorman Osgood (There's Nothing I Wouldn't Do If You Would Be My POSSLQ) does have numerous suggestions to render the ordeal relatively painless. His suggestions are eminently practical: writing your notes beforehand, using wit instead of jokes, going to the bathroom before you get to the podium. He believes that reading written speeches is uniformly boring, that having one drink (but only one) will help you relax during your speech and that, if possible, you should test the acoustics of the room in which you are to speak. He lays emphasis on keeping a speech short and not making too many points in a talk, so that the audience will be able to absorb your message. Helpful and readable. (January 28)