I don't like public speaking. It get really, really nervous anytime I need to make a presentation, run a meeting, or basically stand up in front of people and have all eyes on me. So I wasn't sure what I would get out of this book, but I figured if I'm going to get advice on public speaking I should go to the best. And anybody who has watched some of the amazing TED talks over the years will probably know that TED speakers are some of the best public speakers there are. Chris Anderson, the guy in charge of TED, does a great job of breaking down some of the best presentations he's seen over the last 15 years to give you the best advice he can.

The book is broken up into many small chapters each focusing on a different tip or area of focus. There are chapters on connecting with the audience, making a good impression, how to be persuasive and more. It's a good idea to break up the book like this, as you can easily flip to the section you need the most help with. Personally I recommend reading it the whole way through from start to finish, and then keeping it around for reference anytime you need to prepare for a presentation.

Anderson weaves a lot of anecdotes into his lessons, which keeps it from becoming a boring lesson and instead makes it a fun narrative that you can easily follow without getting overwhelmed. Anderson pulls examples from presentations by Bill Gates, Amy Cuddy, Elizabeth Gilbert and more, and of course you can find all the presentations he refers to online through the Ted Talks website for further reference.

Overall, this book is great if you want to improve your public speaking, or if you want to figure out how some extremely influential and successful people do such a good job of being engaging and convincing on stage. Easy to follow and never too long-winded, it's great for all ages.