Public Speaking
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Summary
A helpful guide to the art of public speaking, the book includes chapters on the voice, on planning speeches, and on the twin skills of proving and persuading. The voice chapter addresses how speakers can make good use of their most basic instrument, while the chapters on planning offer guidance on preparing and structuring a speech before it is delivered. The sections on proving and persuading deal with making a case and winning over an audience. Clear and practical in approach, the guide distills its advice into chapters that speakers can turn to again and again as they prepare to address an audience.
Editor's review
This is a practical guide to public speaking. The author breaks the subject down into voice work, speech planning, argumentation, and persuasion, with a clear structure that makes it suitable as a training manual to revisit. Its value lies not in flashy quick-fix techniques but in restoring speechmaking to a set of fundamentals that can be practiced step by step: first understand your own vocal capacities, then learn to organize content for different occasions, and finally use argument and persuasion to carry your point into listeners' minds. Many principles discussed do not depend on a particular era and still hold today for classroom presentations, meeting remarks, and club talks. It is best read alongside actual practice, applying each chapter's methods to a real speech—revising the draft and rehearsing as you read—which yields more than reading straight through.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students and early-career professionals who need to give formal presentations in class or at meetings
- Beginning speakers who want to systematically improve vocal delivery and stage control
- Frontline managers responsible for training, briefings, or public reports
- Readers who want a foundation for debate and persuasive expression
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking quick formulas for impromptu speaking and unwilling to do basic practice
- Those expecting extensive modern multimedia presentation techniques
- People who only want to study rhetorical theory without actually speaking
Reading tips
- Read the voice and planning sections first, then rewrite the outline for your most recent speech.
- After each chapter, record a three-minute rehearsal on your phone and listen back against the book's key points.
- Treat the argumentation and persuasion chapters as tools to consult as needed for specific speaking tasks.
- Invite a partner to listen and point out unclear expression or weak persuasion.
Contents
- copyright
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI.
- CHAPTER VII
- CHAPTER VIII
- CHAPTER IX
- CHAPTER X
- CHAPTER XI
- CHAPTER XII
- CHAPTER XIII
- CHAPTER XIV
- APPENDICES
- APPENDIX A
- APPENDIX B
FAQ
Is this book suitable for someone with no speaking experience at all?
Yes. It starts with voice work and speech planning, a foundational training approach that does not assume prior stage experience. Beginners can work through the chapters in order, first addressing nerves and content organization, then moving on to argumentation and persuasion, gradually building confidence in actual speaking.
Are the methods in the book still applicable today?
The book addresses fundamentals such as voice control, content organization, and persuasive logic, which do not become obsolete with changes in media. Even with slides or online meetings, speaking still requires a clear voice, sound structure, and credible argument. Readers can adapt the principles to their own contexts rather than copying specific examples.
Should I read it closely or use it as a reference book?
You can combine both. For a first reading, go through it once to understand the complete process of speech preparation; afterward, keep it handy and consult the chapters on voice, planning, and argumentation for specific speaking tasks. Combined with recorded rehearsals and actual speaking practice, it works better than reading without practicing.
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About the author
Clarence Stratton
Author · American
Clarence Stratton was an American author in the field of public speaking and rhetoric, commonly classified under inspirational and personal growth, with one work held in this collection. He compiled the public speaking textbook Public Speaking, which centers on the subject of public speaking and addresses readers who wish to improve their oral expression and ability to speak before an audience. Based on the available material, his writing emphasizes speech techniques and rhetorical training, is textbook-like in nature, and is strongly practical. Because public information is limited, details of his life such as birth and death years, education, and professional career cannot be confirmed; this entry is based mainly on his extant work and its category, without speculation about his biography.
