Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience

by Terry Szuplat

Overview

In the first book of its kind, one of President Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters shares his advice— and never-before-heard insights about public speaking from Barack Obama— on how anyone, anywhere can become a better speaker, communicator, and leader.

Few world leaders in the modern era are as admired for their communication skills as Barack Obama. But how do the rest of us develop these skills and find our voice? In Say It Well, former Obama speechwriter Terry Szuplat reveals the public speaking secrets of the world’s greatest speakers and shares the tips and tricks he learned from the 44th president as well as people from all walks of life whose speeches have gone viral and inspired millions around the world. 

Nonpartisan, warm, and witty, filled with unparalleled expertise and inspirational stories from different areas of life—as well as never-before-heard advice from President Obama on how to give a speech—this modern guide to public speaking covers every stage of the process, including:

• Tips for overcoming fear when facing an audience
• Best practices for using artificial intelligence to compose a memorable speech
• Attention-grabbing openings to pull in any audience
• Framing techniques to make your arguments more persuasive   
• Scientifically-proven ways to inspire your audience to action and to create the change you want
• Tricks for editing, polishing, and practicing your words for maximum impact
• The only way to end any great speech

Whether you’ve given a thousand speeches or are getting ready to speak for the very first time, Say It Well shows you how to use your voice to make a difference in your business or community. It is your essential resource for any and every speaking occasion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798874799281
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/17/2024
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

As one of President Barack Obama’s speechwriters, Terry Szuplat helped craft hundreds of addresses from 2009 to 2017. During President Obama’s second term, Szuplat served as Deputy Director of the White House Speechwriting Office, where he helped oversee and edit a team of speechwriters. Terry is an adjunct professor teaching speechwriting at American University, delivers multimedia keynote presentations and hands-on workshops, and his commentaries have appeared in The New Yorker, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Fox News, and Politico.

A student of neuroscience and speech pathology, Sean Patrick Hopkins has translated his understanding of human behavior and vocal performance into a career in storytelling. His classical training and versatility with dialects has helped to create distinct and varied characters across many genres. In addition to narrating over 100 audiobooks, he has been seen and heard on film, television, video games, and stages in New York City and across the country. When not in the booth, you can find him buried in genealogy research, out exploring our National Parks, and raising an amazing daughter alongside his wife, fellow narrator Patricia Santomasso.

Editorial Reviews

For eight years, Terry Szuplat collaborated with President Barack Obama on some of the most impactful speeches of our time. In Say it Well, this gifted speechwriter shows you how your words can change your community, your nation, even the world.” — David Axelrod, Former senior strategist for President Barack Obama and New York Times bestselling author of Believer: My Forty Years in Politics

“I’ve worked with Terry for nearly a decade, and I’ve seen firsthand how his brilliant advice can help anyone give the speech only they can give. If you’re a CEO, executive, or employee who wants to energize your team, differentiate your brand, and win over new customers, read this remarkable book today.” — Marc Benioff, Co-founder, chair, and CEO of Salesforce and New York Times bestselling author of Trailblazer

“In a world where every word matters, Say It Well is a masterclass in how to articulate your vision compellingly and turn your speeches into powerful tools for leadership, persuasion, and impact. This book is destined to become a classic for anyone who wants to perfect the art of public speaking.” — Dorie Clark, Professor of executive education, Columbia Business School and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game

“If you’re called upon to give a speech, it’s helpful to have a master teacher. Terry Szuplat is one of those masters, and at the Pentagon he helped me make every word count. Say It Well is a profoundly experiential book that will help you find your cadence and help our country reclaim the civility we need today.” — William S. Cohen, Former Republican U.S. Senator from Maine and Former U.S. Secretary of Defense

“I was shocked when my graduation speech went viral and shocked again when Terry included my speech in this book. Say it Well is a true gift—an easy-to-use handbook, written with wisdom and humility, for how we can quiet our self-doubt, find our most authentic voice, and amplify our stories from the page to the stage!” — Donovan Livingston, Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Faculty and Author of Lift Off: From the Classroom to the Stars

From the Publisher