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Presentation Zen shifts your thinking about presentations. It is a well designed, quick to read book, but the effect is transformative. And it stays with you - I read it months ago and still remember many of the points and visuals.
As someone said on the back cover: please don't read this book, otherwise my presentations won't be standing out any more ;)On a more serious note: a fantastic book with a fresh, somewhat unusual approach to presentation preparation, design and delivery.
However, the most important reason to buy the book, is for all of the things I learned I was doing wrong. I use PowerPoint and Keynote quite a bit. I do a alot of public speaking and teaching. Garr, says many of the same things others have said in their books, but I believe his is the one I'd suggest for a person who doesnt have a lot of time, and wants to create a memorable presentation. I feel I have a pretty good hanlde on design. It is also fair to say, that after reading "Presentation Zen", i realized I was doing many things right. Its an easy ready, quick and informative. Buy it, you wont be dissappointed.
This book is a quick read that is easily consumed and provides a valuable alternative perspective on incorporating visuals in presentations. The language is clear, the insights are thoughtful, and the visuals are illuminating.In addition to addressing the final product, the book offers valuable suggestions for the entire process of crafting a presentation (beginning with conceptualization).One of the things I found particularly valuable was the space devoted to analyzing presentation styles in the context of culture. Reynolds doesn't presume that his style is for everyone, however he provides guidance for adhering to the constraints demanded by certain cultures (whether they be ethnic or more tied to work type) and still infusing them with a clean and attractive aesthetic.
All that is good and I think the concepts apply equally well to video production. The title is accurate, these are simple ideas on presentations but that takes nothing away from their power. Nonetheless, the book drags a bit in the first half and you almost begin to worry that the author doesn't have a point. That's especially true because so many of us do the wrong thing so often in building our Powerpoints. Simple graphics, simple messages on each slide are not only easier to comprehend, they also free the speaker from the straightjacket of a speech. But much of this feeling is probably a left brained Western reaction to a set up that is Eastern and very right brained. Worth reading if you care about being a good presenter.
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