Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers

When I finished reading this book, I bought one for all three of my kids, gave one to my nephews and nieces, and bought another 10 to pass out to anyone I know who has to give a speech. This is the best book on public speaking I have ever read. It is practical and easy to read and interesting and true. I immediately implemented chapters 1 and 2 (Power Pause and Power Opening), and those two keys alone set the stage for a meaningful speech. If you are a leader, you must read this book. If you ever have to give a speech, you must read this book. If you even just want an interesting book to read, this one is great. If you've ever given a speech, you will realize simple things you did that made your speech less effective. If you are a professional speaker, read this book to get better. I don't know where I heard about it, but I believe it was one of the most lucky circumstances of my professional life.

Of this book, Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, Fox News said, "As a student of speech, I very much enjoyed this intriguing historic approach to public speaking. Humes creates a valuable and practical guide". Turn any presentation into a landmark occasion. Ever wish you could captivate your boardroom with the opening lines of your presentation, like Winston Churchill in his most memorable speeches? Or want to command attention by looming larger than life before your audience, much like Abraham Lincoln when standing erect and wearing a top hat, he towered over seven feet? Now you can master presentation skills, wow your audience, and shoot up the corporate ladder by unlocking the secrets of history's greatest speakers? Author, historian, and world-renowned speaker James C Humes-who wrote speeches for five American presidents-shows you how great leaders through the ages used simple yet incredibly effective tricksd to speak, persuade, and win throngs of fans and followers. Inside you'll discover how Napoleon Bonaparte mastered the use of the pregnant pause to grab attention, how Lady Margaret Thatcher punctuanted her most serious speeches with the use of subtle props, how Ronald Reagan could win even the most hostile crowd with carefully timed wit, and much much more. Whether you're addressing a small nation or a larger staff meeting, you'll want to master the tips and tricks in this book.

Going into this book, I had a lot of expectations with such a powerful title. And I can confidently say that my high expectations were met for the most part. While many books like this seem to enjoy stretching their content to the limit with massive chapters that easily could’ve been half the size, Speak Like Churchill Stand Like Lincoln doesn’t struggle from this weakness. It’s an easy read with clear and concise chapters that feel like the author presents you with exactly what you need without the extra content that may come with other reads. Some chapters are stronger than others, with some introducing powerful and applicable tips, while others are more obvious to those who have taken any sort of speech class before. Which I think was the only negative with this book. Although, for someone who isn’t well versed in speech, these more basic chapters could be exactly what they need. So, some may not see this as a weakness at all. Either way, it was fantastic to see the plethora of examples throughout all the chapters. There was no shortage of quotes, stories, and examples of historical figures. This book does an incredible job of showcasing these tips through these examples and driving the point home of how powerful and influential speech can be when used effectively. The author even included some personal stories, which were enjoyable as well. Overall, this book is a great read and has something to offer to anyone interested in speech.

A very good book! While I could definitely tell that the author has a certain political leaning, I also noticed he did his utmost to remain as non-political as feasibly possible, and I greatly appreciate that. He wrote in very simple, concise ways that were both informative and entertaining. I always enjoy reading little snippets of the lives of many of the world's most influential people, and the author gives many and uses all of them very well to prove his point. A recommended read.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to give a better speech. My dad agrees. My dad had a big speech to give and was nervous about it so I loaned him this book. He enjoyed reading it and said that it gave him more confidence and eased his nerves a bit. Only reading this book the day before his speech, he was able to use some of the suggestions to rewrite his speech, which he believed positively impacted his speech. He was very happy that I loaned him this book.

Excellent resource for making powerful speeches and memorable messages. The book absolutely delivered from the title to the contents. Short, easy to digest chapters chocked full of examples.

What an inspiring read! Mr. Humes references a multitude of leaders from all over the world, spanning centuries. There are a number of similarities between all the great leaders, yet each found a way to use his/her natural talents to rise to the top of his/her field. I recommend this for anyone, not just those in managerial or ownership positions, as it is a useful guide in how to deal with others in a respectful and positive way.

Love this book, must read for anyone who is serious about public speaking or just being a more effective communicator.

Highly recommended as THE book on presenting with power

Muy ameno de leer, te va guiando sobre los puntos más importantes de una presentación o charla. Lo recomendaría junto a "Never be nervous again" o 101 Secrets of "Highly Effective Speakers" para aquellos que quieren dominar la habilidad de hablar en público.

I Purchased this book with the intention to learn few Public Speaking tips and honing my oratory skills. Though this books subtitle says 21 powerful secrets of Greatest speakers. I feel it only revolves around Churchill's speaking style. I strongly disagree with the authors recommendation as the current day speakers do not have any of this traits highlighted. This Book does not pass the test of time.The Book details on the 21 tips used by Churchill and other leaders. Though in my view this tips which worked wonders in that era do not apply to the current age. Just imagine a leader of current era speaking in the speed of Martin Luther. We simply do not have so much of time to listen to words with such slow speed, and with the available information even speakers will not be able to convey all they want to.The famous Gettysburg speech or Poem narrated by Lincoln is very slow paced but the same was read by Obama, and the speed is way fast.

Could you ever imagine a better teacher than one who wrote speeches for five American presidents? James Humes is a perfect person for this task.I expected a lot from this book and I was sure not disappointed. James Humes does not only give theoretical advices - much more - he gives you pracital examples that come from great speakers like Churchill, Lincoln, Napoleon, Reagan, Clinton and much more...The book covers all aspects, from the beginning of a speech till the closing. You will find a lot of usefull ideas that you easily can use.The book is as well easy to read. It has a lot of good anecdotes it's funny and you can even learn a little bit history.I recommend this book to everyone who wants to improve his speeches.