Book Review: How to Develop Self-Confidence & Influence People by Public Speaking

 BOOK review

Started on:  5.October.2011

Finished on: 8.October.2011

i just finished reading How to Develop Self-Confidence & Influence People by Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie. phew. so, it's been quite a ride reading this book. i learned lots of things about public speaking; even though i'm not planning to be a professional public speaker, it's not a bad thing to read this book (in case i needed to speak in front of audiences someday). the thing that makes reading this book difficult is the format of the book. i'm reading the mass market paperback version of this book; so it's quite small and thin. but the letter spacing in the book is very tight and i think there's too much content in one page. for me (personally), it makes reading the book much more tiring.

here's the review of the book; i summarize things a little bit to give you an idea of what you're going to get in the book; so get ready for this quite long review ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

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in the beginning of the book, it is said that many people are having difficulties with public speaking. the introduction encourage the readers to not feel ashamed about it; because some of the best speakers these days had also experienced it before their success. to be able to overcome weakness in public speaking, Dale Carnegie mentioned 4 essential things before explaining things further:

1. start with a strong and persistent desire

2. to know thoroughly what you are going to talk about

3. act confident

4. practice! practice! practice!

the author also said that most people who had difficulties in public speaking are caused by lack of confidence; that's why it's very important to develop confidence. so the book shares several things that helps build confidence while delivering speeches; such as the procedure of preparing a speech, how to improve your memory, how to deliver a good speech, how to open and close a talk, how to interest your audience, and also how to improve your diction. each part provides good and not so good examples that we can learn from. many good ones came from famous people such as Abraham Lincoln. those examples are discussed and the author point out the things that are important.

there are quotes  in the book that really motivates me :) the first one is a quote by Elbert Hubbard (p.86). i'm only going to write a part of it, which says:

"Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be, and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into that particular individual ... Thought is supreme. Preserve a right mental attitude-the attitude of courage, frankness and good cheer. To think rightly is to create. All things come through desire and every sincere prayer is answered. We become like that on which our hearts are fixed." ♥♥♥

the second is a quote by Anon (p.100)

"If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win, but think you can't

it's almost a cinch you won't. 

Life battles don't always go 

to the stronger or faster man;

But soon or late the man who wins

is the one who thinks he can."

 i think that is a very motivational, poetic, beautiful quote. ♥♥♥ i keep reading it over and over and still got that same amazed feeling ◠‿◠

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for me personally, i learned so many things about public speaking from the book. it almost feels like i'm reading a highschool textbook. the content is brilliant, but for me (personally) sometimes it gets boring :P

but overall, this is still a very good book; especially for those who wants to improve their public speaking skills, this is definitely the book to read! (✿◠‿◠)

 4/5 stars

by.stefaniesugia♥