Description

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—to teach you how to write and deliver great speeches.

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.

About the Author

As one of President Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters, Terry Szuplat helped craft hundreds of addresses from 2009 to 2017, inspiring audiences around the world. 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 and assisted with State of the Union addresses. 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. He lives outside Washington, DC, with his wife and two children.