After each Drop The Mic workshop, I like to circulate a reading list for the attendees. Unlike many reading lists though, this one isn’t a punishment - the books on it are brilliant, intriguing, and a good read - even if you’re not that interested in the subject matter.

It helps that all the authors don’t really have an excuse to be boring; their books after all, are about how to hold an audience. From granular, science-driven insights to hilarious true-life disasters, these books have it all, and are the ones I turn to when I’m in need of inspiration. I haven’t managed to get round to setting myself up as an Amazon affiliate, so if you want to buy them - just buy ‘em.

The NakeD PRESENTER

Garr Reynolds.

Despite not having a proper first name, Garr has written two brilliant books on presenting effortlessly; The Naked Presenter and Presentation Zen. Both books espouse the value of stripping away everything unnecessary to really connect with an audience. Covering everything from slide design to optimum mind state, nothing in either book is revolutionary, but Reynolds guides the reader elegantly through all the steps needed to blow an audience away with a simple, powerful presentation.

How to Own The Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking

Viv Groskop

Viv Groskop is a writer and journalist with a background in stand-up comedy, and in this book she expertly tackles a question I get asked a lot - How can a woman speak up and be heard authentically in a male-dominated environment? Exploring the the idea of achieving happy high status and manoeuvring around cultural challenges, Groskop writes lightly and engagingly around a difficult and complicated subject. Well worth a read no matter your gender.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Carmine Gallo

Sure, it helps if you have droolworthy products to sell to an army of die-hard fans who lap up your every utterance about improved GPUs, but there’s no denying that Steve Jobs was a polished presenter who knew the power of carefully-chosen words, structure and storytelling. “Secrets” might be pushing a bit though.

Gallo’s book is forensic in its dissection of his speeches - word for word, pause for pause, all of his techniques are highlighted and explained in great depth. Possibly too much depth. Depends how much you like Steve jobs. A brilliant book if you’re interested in the marketing, structural and narrative elements to a great speech or product launch.

Resonate

Nancy Duarte

If you like geeking out on how to best represnt stories and data through design, this book is for you.
Renowned communication expert Duarte emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience's needs, desires, and beliefs in order to connect with them effectively and dives deep into the "audience journey”. However where she really excels is detailing the role of visuals in presentations, highlighting the significance of visual storytelling and slide design. Duarte shares strategies for creating visually appealing slides that enhance the speaker's message and amplify its impact. It’s comprehensive and super detailed - I got a bit lost at times, but that’s very much a me problem.

Gravitas

Caroline Giyder

Something everyone wants, yet eludes many, gravitas is a mysterious, compelling quality. Here, performance and voice coach Glyder explains how to tap into the gravitas lurking inside you. Helpful no matter if you’re a CEO or just struggling to be taken seriously by the man in the off license.

TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking

Chris Anderson

Being the Head of TED, Anderson has the inside track to some of the best speeches and speakers in the world. This book explores what the best TED speeches have in common and quickly dismissed the idea there’s a formula - just key tools and authentic voices. Jon Ronson and Jamie Oliver are among the voices who pop up to offer advice, in what is a fascinating book regardless of whether you’ll be delivering a TED talk anytime soon.

Some books I’ve read so you don’t have to.

Speak to Win

Brian Tracy

Hugely well-reviewed book. Contains such gems as “Check the lighting” and “Plan your material”. On the cover Brian is resplendent in braces. This book is not for you.

Confessions of a public speaker

Scott Berkun

With a title like that, I want stories of terrible audiences, backstage drama and disastrous onstage mishaps. What you get is several bland stories about, er, PA systems stopping working, or a venue being a bit chilly. Probably. I stopped reading before I lost any sort of enjoyment whatsoever for public speaking.

6 books that will make you a better presenter (and 2 that won't).