Tag: book

May 11

Review – The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any AudienceThe Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience by Carmine Gallo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carmine Gallo does a great service to presenters by sharing a successful methodology for planning, preparing, and delivery of presentations. I appreciated the sharing of research at keys points in the book that underscores the reason for a particular approach. Carmine summarizes the material several times with key examples to help the reader internalize the learning. My mind is whirling with ideas to improve my own presentations using the methods described in this book. I recommend this book to those that participate in any phase of presenting as a learning tool to improve presentations and delivery skills.

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May 09

Review – Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and DeliveryPresentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Presentation Zen provides numerous ways to enhance presentations and delivery of presentations. Garr discusses the many things that most of us hate about many presentations but we still continue to see them used almost on a daily basis.

My own company is bent on developing “slidumentation.” Like Garr, I agree this is poor approach to providing process documentation. Even before reading this book, I mentioned several times to senior management how the context of the documentation is lost the moment the information session about that process documentation is completed. Garr provides several tips to overcome this problem.

I truly enjoyed the techniques shared about simplifying visuals to enhance the presentation rather than visuals that compete for the focus on the information the speaker provides. I am thankful for my mentors who have shared some techniques with me in the past and I look forward to implementing some of the techniques presented in this book.

I recommend this book to those that regularly present information. The techniques, when implemented, will improve your capabilities as a presenter.

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May 08

Review – Self-Printed: The Sane Person’s Guide to Self-Publishing

Self-Printed: The Sane Person's Guide to Self-Publishing: How to Use Digital Self-Publishing, Social Media and Common Sense to Start Earning A Living ... or Shouting 'Down With The Big Six!')Self-Printed: The Sane Person’s Guide to Self-Publishing: How to Use Digital Self-Publishing, Social Media and Common Sense to Start Earning A Living … or Shouting ‘Down With The Big Six!’) by Catherine Ryan Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Catherine, in her book ‘Self-Printed’, provides solid advice to aspiring authors and independent publishers. The lessons she shares from her experience paralleled my personal experience closely. I just had to learn the harder way because I was unaware of her book at the time I worked on my own. I recommend that those aspiring to publish independently first read this book. You will minimize your headaches and get a big picture view along with some details for delivering a successful product.

In the chapter, How to Sell Self-Published Books, she answered some questions that I could not locate through other searches or material. The topic about the relationship between print-on-demand and brick and mortar bookstores.

The only minor shortcoming that I noticed, probably because of my technical bent, was coverage about graphics. Rather than provide details, Catherine relied on her graphic designer. Although available elsewhere, coverage of graphics (resolution, conversion, and other topics) would prove useful to those new to independent publishing.

I recommend Catherine’s book for those considering taking the plunge into the independent publishing area.

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