Presentation Books

Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Presentations

This book teaches the assertion-evidence approach to scientific presentations. Instead of building presentations, as most engineers and scientists do, on the weak foundation of topic phrases and bulleted lists, this assertion-evidence approach calls for building presentations on succinct message assertions supported by visual evidence. Unlike the commonly followed topic-subtopic approach that PowerPoint leads presenters to use, the assertion-evidence approach is solidly grounded in research.

Scott Berkun, Confessions of a Public Speaker

In this funny and practical book, Scott Berkun reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, and shows how anyone can learn to use them well. It’s an entertaining and instructional romp through the embarrassments and triumphs Scott has experienced over 15 years of speaking to crowds of all sizes.

Matt Carter, Designing Science Presentations

Designing Science Presentations guides researchers and graduate students of virtually any discipline in the creation of compelling science communication. Most scientists never receive formal training in the creation, delivery, and evaluation of such material, yet it is essential for publishing in high-quality journals, soliciting funding, attracting lab personnel, and advancing a career.

Nancy Duarte, Resonate

Resonate helps presenters make a strong connection with their audience and lead them to purposeful action. The author’s approach is to build a presentation like writing a documentary and focuses on content development methodologies that are fundamental and move people to action.

Nancy Duarte, slide:ology

This book is one of the modern classics in the field of presentation design. This book is full of practical approaches to visual story development that can be applied by anyone. It combines conceptual thinking and inspirational design, with insightful case studies from the world’s leading brands.

Carmine Gallo, Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs’s wildly popular presentations set a new global gold standard for business presentations. Gallo has studied and analyzed the very best of Jobs’s performances and offers point-by-point examples, tried-and-true techniques, and proven presentation secrets in 18 “scenes”.

Carmine Gallo, The Storyteller’s Secret

In The Storyteller’s Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch on and Others Don’t, Gallo reveals the keys to telling powerful stories that inspire, motivate, educate, build brands, launch movements, and change lives. Whether your goal is to educate, fundraise, inspire teams, build an award-winning culture, or to deliver memorable presentations, a story is your most valuable asset and your competitive advantage.

Carmine Gallo, Talk Like TED

TED Talks have redefined the elements of a successful presentation and become the standard for public speaking. TED―which stands for technology, entertainment, and design―brings together the world’s leading thinkers. Gallo breaks down hundreds of TED talks and interviews the most popular TED presenters, as well as the top researchers in the fields of psychology, communications, and neuroscience to reveal the nine secrets of all successful TED presentations.

Stephen Kosslyn, Better PowerPoint

Cognitive neuroscientist Stephen M. Kosslyn shows clear principles about how to design effective slides based on scientific data and details quick steps to sharpen and strengthen your presentation.

Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen

Presentation Zen shows readers how to reach their audience through simplicity and storytelling. It provides examples to draw inspiration from and how to reinvigorate material in totally fresh ways that will make it memorable and resonate with the audience.

Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen Design

Filled with practical insights and examples, this book builds upon Reynolds’ other book by focusing on presentation slide design. You’ll learn how to design effective presentations that contain text, data, color, images, and video.

Robin Williams, The Non-Designer’s Design Book

The Non-Designer’s Design Book offers practical design advice, including four principles of design that underlie every design project; how to design with color and type; how to design with type; how to combine typefaces for maximum effect; and how to see and think like a professional designer.

Robin Williams, The Non-Designer’s Presentation Book

In The Non-Designer’s Presentation Book, Robin explains four fundamental principles of good design as applied to digital presentations, and adds four more principles specific to clear communication with slides. Here, Robin covers what makes a good presentation or a bad one, and how to plan, organize, and outline your presentation.

Disclosure: Descriptions are derived from those on Amazon.com.

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