The Art of Public Speaking with Learning Tools Suite (Student CD-ROMs 5.0, Audio Abridgement CD set, PowerWeb, And Topic Finder) Reviews

• Say what?

  
  By A2VE83MZF98ITY on 2005-09-03
  Students who use Lucas' book are presented not simply with an excellent text for preparation and delivery of speeches, but also with a website full of information, examples and tips. While this is intended for a classroom setting (the teacher's edition comes with a lot of supplements to help enhance the learning experience for the students), those who want to learn about the mechanics and processes of public speaking on their own would not be ill served by using this text.
  
  There are some signature features that make this a very good text for students, both independent and classroom based. The internet connection is but one, not only the website associated with the book, but also tips on using the vast resources of the internet wisely and efficiently. There is a strong coverage of ethics, to help students avoid the problems of plagiarism (intentional and inadvertent), as well as how to listen properly (without attaching personal agenda or false meaning to interpretation). The book is very visually interesting, with colourful pages, pictures, charts, and examples of things that might be used to make speeches more interesting. The text is written with the student in mind - it is not a book by experts for experts, and thus keeps the language at a basic level without sacrificing clarity.
  
  The book itself is organised into broad sections: Speaking and Listening; Getting Started; Organising and Outlining; Speech Presentation; and finally Varieties of Public Speaking. There are few things that inspire more fear in many people than the prospect of having to deliver a public speech - the first chapter deals with some of this anxiety issue, as well as helping the students to understand the role of the listener (a role that most of us assume far more often than we realise). The sections on Speech Preparation cover the range from selecting the idea, understanding the audience and doing research to organising the speech from beginning to end in a logical, meaningful, and interesting manner.
  
  While the section on preparation might be consider by many to be the most important, the section on speech delivery is perhaps the most vital, for a good speech poorly delivered will likely not have much impact, whereas a poor speech delivered with great power can often have great influence. This section deals with issues of language, delivery, body language, personal presentation, as well as the use of visual aids (when they are and are not appropriate).
  
  There are different types of speeches, and these are covered in the final section. Speeches can be used to inform (like lectures), to persuade (much of political speech is like this, as are sermons), or in special occasions such as introducing people, presenting awards, accepting honours, or speeches of commemoration and memorial. There is also a section on small-group speaking - most people don't attribute the idea of `giving a speech' to speaking in board rooms, committees, etc., but this requires a special kind of rhetorical skill.
  
  Overall, this is an excellent text for coming to understand the art of public speaking from beginning to end.
  
  
  
  

• Solid Reference and Well Constructed

  
  By A2H00ZBTINKX5Q on 2003-07-28
  For both beginning and advanced speakers -- really, anyone seeking to persuade others -- this is a FINE reference. The work is loaded with URLs and reference sources for research purposes. You'll definitely want to keep this book on the shelf within handy reach. The chapter on "Speaking to Persuade" is especially useful for getting commitment from others. I recommend the work particularly to business professionals who want good, solid advice on how to construct and deliver effective communications. In addition, the author has provided exceptionally well-integrated support materials to ensure proper understanding of the concepts. Teachers and trainers will find the bank of test materials and workshop exercises extremely helpful. Also, the CD presents highlights from such outstanding speakers as Barbara Bush, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Dole and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  
  

• Awashed in multi-cultural leftist ideological bias...

  
  By on 2000-07-25
  Whatever happened to objectivity in academia among instructors, and especially among textbook writers? Well its gone out the door with academic freedom. The author rolls over backwards and forwards to be politically correct. The selected speech examples are full of leftist paraphernalia from an overbearing multiculturism to zealous advocacy of gun control. His section on demographic audience analysis should be called "How to patronize and placate your audience's minorities without offending them." The author's fixation on the "Slippery Slope" fallacy (Chap. 16) is really a subtle indictment of criticizing the ill effects of bad laws with the cause-and-effect method. The "Slippery Slope" is overtly political in its context and typically addresses growth of big government and the resulting tyranny of good intentions that comes. He really presses for gun control with this one. Of course, these days the leftist cultural imperialists consider objectivity as being consistent with the liberal PC dogma of the day. This book wouldn't be so bad, if it was more objective and laid off the Berkeley ideological bent.
  
  

• Total garbage

  
  By A31FW2P1181Y7V on 2003-09-04
  I cannot stress the point that if this were not required for many college public speaking courses, Stephen E. Lucas would probably be writing greeting cards at best and at worst, the ingredient label on a tube of toothpaste!
  The author uses examples of persuasive speeches (with a liberal agenda) to a receptive (liberal) audience as his evidence that a well written, well delivered speech will influence the audience to the speakers view. Total cr^p!

  I wouldnt have bought this if it wasnt a required text and I am happy to be selling this liberal trash to some other poor unsuspecting student. I wonder if the college gets kickbacks from the publishing houses.
  
  

• A Text Book to Keep

  
  By A1GW4VT27Q4PZ2 on 2001-01-08
  I have taught from this book for almost five years now; it is in its seventh edition, has a CD Rom now that includes video clips. The book is comprehensive, and no single semester course can cover everything in it; but I think it is a great book to teach from. First, it is WELL WRITTEN. Next, it is organized well. Finally, the speeches it contains are great examples---both student speeches, and those from the public sector. I recommend to all my students NOT to sell it, but to keep it for reference later.
  
  
• Excellent text
  By A1IWWRZJOXOSYP on 2007-01-07
  This is the textbook that our community college department uses to teach public speaking. I've taught from this text since the third edition, about 10 years. Lucas updates the book to keep the examples timely and the speech selections fresh. I've seen some reviews that talk about a political bias, either to the right or left. I don't detect that. In persuasive speaking, we want students to address controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, and health care, for example. Sometimes they argue to the left or sometimes to the right, but Lucas outlines the tools for good persuasive speaking. I like the emphasis on ethics. The logical fallacies (red herring, either-or, bandwagon, slippery slope, ad hominem) section is a valuable tool in critical thinking. The emphasis on internationalism, which most students will increasingly find relevant during their business careers, is excellent. The examples in the text do illustrate the main points, while the CD allows students to see clips of public speakers, bringing the craft alive. If Oprah, Larry King & Barbara Walters can earn over $50,000 per speaking engagement and Bill Clinton brings in over $250,000, it is a potentially valuable skill. For promotion and success in business, communication is essential. This is an excellent text for purposes of study. Enjoy!
  
  
• Remind me to sell this one back
  By A1XMMC7R8WLEDH on 2001-12-21
  From the inauspiciously multicultural front cover to the very last page, this book definitely has not-so-subtle politically correct overtones; most notable is the section on avoiding overtly masculine language. Its political bent is unabashedly left-wing. As a speech book, however, there are actually some very helpful tips; I found the section on overcoming nervousness well-designed and thought out. The CD is little more than meretricious fluff. Overall, there is really little more than you could find in any serious speech book or even website; it is simply dumbed down for modern college students.
  
  
• It's A Keeper
  By ABNVIFELRFD3P on 2001-02-12
  I bought the book for a speech class, then had to drop the class. Although I dropped the class in time to receive a full refund on the book, I decided to keep it instead. Why keep it, you might ask, when I could get all of that cash back? The reason is this: I used to freeze up when speaking, even just introducing myself! With the help of The Art of Public Speaking, 7th edition, I am learning to overcome that reaction and can now concentrate on the content of my speech, which this book is also teaching me to prepare and present with confidence. I highly recommend it to students and non-students alike!
  
  
• Mastering Public Speaking
  By on 2000-05-31
  If you're like most people, you find yourself feeling a bit nervous when you need to face groups of people to make presentations or give talks. Some of this nervousness fades with time and experience, but if you read this book you'll have a definite advantage -- you'll be prepared!

  I read this book in order to improve my public speaking skills, and I have found it to be consistently informative, helpful, clear, and inspirational. This book is most useful for those who have very little public speaking experience, and it provides guidelines for determining the purpose of your talk, giving some thought to who your audience will be, doing research, supporting your ideas, organizing the talk, and keeping the audience's interest while you're talking. I especially love the sample speeches provided in this book, and the side-bars for illustrating key concepts and ideas.

  Anyone planning to speak in public will benefit from reading this book as they prepare!
  
  

• left wing politics disguised as a textbook
  By A1MTQ8EUF19M28 on 2002-08-08
  i must agree with the reviewer from North Carolina. this is supposed to be a textbook written to teach about public speaking. however, the author took every opportunity to spread his left wing political views instead of concentrating on the subject matter. if an author needs to use examples to prove his academic point, then the examples should be somewhat balanced instead of being entirely offensive to a portion of the audience. if you are not a left wing extremist, it is very easy to get into such disagreement with this author's political views that the academic lesson is obscured. in short, this book is not so much a public speaking textbook as it is a platform for left wing political ranting. it would better serve as a textbook if the class subject matter was political extremism.
  
  
• wrond book
  By A3VC35XKLC3FT9 on 2005-05-13
  The ISBN number does not correspon with the book that amazon has online. The correct ISBN is 0072938218
  
  
• Excellent System-Too Partisan
  By A3LV6SHJ7LPUJP on 2007-01-23
  I use this text to teach speech. It is a very good, systematic look at creating and delivering a speech. The system is great and the presentation is great.
  
  However, you may be irritated like I am that the examples of mistakes are overwhelmingly made by males, who don't hold PC views, such as the business man who makes a big deal, the student who questions global warming theory, the student who doesn't want to attend the anti-war talk, the library volunteer who goes to church. While Lucas can't directly attack their positions, when he needs an example of a speech mistake, these are the people he chooses. It definitely detracts from an otherwise flawless book, especially when he is so preachy about respecting other viewpoints.
  
  
• Great book!
  By A25KZIC6SJJETO on 2003-06-02
  Great information inside. I learned alot about writting as well as speaking!
  
  
• Right Wing Propaganda
  By AG0AOFDJVNM2H on 2002-09-06
  This book is so far to the right it makes Ronald Reagan look like a Neo-Liberal. The assumptions the text makes about the classical speaker-subject "transmitting" a message to a "critical" listening audience is so passe and laughably bankrupt the text should be shredded and used as filler for a big GOP elephant. Seriously, if you want to learn about rhetoric there are plently of well written textbooks for college educated audiences that do make the simplistic assumption and fabulous fallacies that comprise this textbook.
  
  
• Great Textbook -- Easy to read
  By A3IIB3YNYJ8MYI on 2006-11-10
  I ordered this book for my speech class on-line because it was cheaper than at my school's bookstore. Even though I didn't read all of the assigned chapters, the ones that I DID read were very informative and I think I've learned a lot. The author is using "simple" English that is easy to digest for even "the dumbest" students.
  
  
• balanced or biased?
  By A77FSLKY9LDW6 on 2006-07-16
  How interesting that the reviewers comment on the presumed politics of the writer before looking at the quality of the text. More interesting still, that some see the text slanted to the right and others to the left. Well done, Lucas.
  I'd like to read what you have to say about using images (PowerPoint, Keynote) well. I'd also like to read some non-American speeches. These features would enhance its value to me.
  
  
• Good for class...
  By A1J7OSJ4X9IGKU on 2007-09-30
  I would have never looked at this book before i needed it for class, but it is a good source for preparing for any type of public speaking occasion. It is truly helpful. The text has examples and the examples of speeches are usually also in video form on the CD's that come with the text. Also, there are CD's so that you can listen to the chapter (in your car) for example. I personally read each chapter and used the CD's for extra review... Good source for Public Speaking classes, or preparing for any type of presentation.
  
  
• yeaa
  By A2F9SJGOJJLABR on 2006-07-21
  its not really that bad. no one would buy this book if they didn't have to. no one would ever buy textbooks if they didn't have to. but it was easy to read and follow and i got an easy A in the class with the textbook.
  
  
• The Art of Public Speaking
  By AM1RNDRCYFGRL on 2007-03-26
  Excellent text book. The CD-Rom guide book gives you the extra help needed to excel in the course. The topic finder is also a great tool.
  
  
• more than expectation
  By A3R6VO347OE5EE on 2005-09-19
  it was in very good condition
  and worked with professional way
  
  
• efficiency
  By A30PPY7SNT950I on 2006-02-27
  Got it he book is on time. the book is very educational and intresting. it aids you and you willlearn it lot. for those whohave fear of publice speaking, trust me after utilising all the tool { cds and materials etc.} you shall over come.
  
  
• Lots of Extras
  By A37BDRACD9LWJF on 2007-01-05
  Good overall text. Some repetition that helped. The CD abridgment was very help to review or preview from. But Topic Finder was helpful, ton of ideas to wrap your head around. Didn't touch the other extras.
  
  
• Beware of binding.
  By A3VG6YUKIGPUJJ on 2008-09-29
  This is a good textbook for anyone who wants an overview on the elements of speaking in public. The content is broad, but not too deep. It puts perspective on oration that I had not considered before. There is a lot of practical thinking woven into the chapters.
  
  However, buyers beware! I bought the ring-bound edition, not understanding that I would have to provide my own 3-ring binder. It was a complete buyer error, but be advised to consider the binding of your textbook. Acquaint yourself with the various types of binding (i.e., spiral, ring, etc.) and identify your preferences.
  
  
• I still don't have my book
  By A2L4GYHUUFTLAW on 2008-10-06
  I ordered this book on the 3rd of September, and it was shipped on the 5th, and I was told that it would take 3-15 days before the book came. Well, it's October 5th now, and I STILL do not have my book. I am not happy and I want my money back.
  
  
• Grossly overpriced, soon outdated, but thorough
  By A3ERSM6E4R7A0Q on 2008-12-13
  I resent having to buy yet another super-expensive college textbook with basic information, expanded to four times what it needs to be, and packaged with useless CD's ($100 plus). While the written material is thorough, it could be condensed to 100-150 pages. Does public speaking really change so much that an "updated" edition is warranted within two years?
  
  To me, it's another distasteful example of college textbook publishers gouging students, and the colleges going along with it. Thanks.
  
  
• The Art of Public Speaking with Learning Tools Suite
  By ALFGDWIFD1G8A on 2006-11-04
  It was in excellent condition and was delivered within the timeframe.
  
  
  
• Useful
  By ABDDQ2HGJ0GW on 2006-11-06
  Not cheap for the class, but very useful and clear cut. All the material included wasn't very helpful to me, but the website was. Overall, stll nice but no keeping value...
  
  
• Best in Speech!
  By A2YS027VQOJOR5 on 2007-02-22
  Thank you very much for the fast turn around on the second delivery. After I e-mail you guys to let you know that I had received my order incomple. Thank you again!
  
  
• Public Speaking
  By AYAAWKNYCWHI0 on 2007-09-15
  I got my book very quickly. Completely new, in perfect condition, with everything included. Very nice.
  
  
• very good
  By A26W0EH4C6INA0 on 2007-10-01
  i really liked the books. it was a new package as promised and also delivered on time.
  thank you.
  
  

• Student CD-ROMs 5.0 with Guidebook and PowerWeb card (NAI) to accompany The Art of Public Speaking, 9th Edition
• A Writer's Reference
• Art of Public Speaking- Student Workbook Only
• Society: The Basics (9th Edition) (MySocLab Series)
• The St. Martin's Guide to Writing