The Art of Public Speaking


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 624 reviews)

The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie and Joseph B. Esenwein is a manual for people who have to speak in public, and it is still in use today. Whether the occasion in question is sharing travel experiences with friends, a toast for newly-weds, or a public debate, the tips and tricks collected in this book will come handy anywhere.

The book describes how to make effective use of one's voice and gestures, how to gain and convey confidence in front of a large audience, and which methods to use to convert the listeners to one's own cause. Each chapter contains examples and a list of practice exercises. The last 15 sections are real speeches by famous men to function as a study aid. (Summary by Availle) (19 hr 51 min)

Chapters

Things to Think of First - A Foreword 5:49 Read by Michael Lipschultz
Ch. I: Acquiring Confidence Before an Audience 13:31 Read by Michael Lipschultz
Ch. II: The Sin of Monotony 9:57 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. III: Efficiency through Emphasis and Subordination 20:27 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. IV: Efficiency through Change of Pitch 24:35 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. V: Efficiency through Change of Pace 31:29 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. VI: Pause and Power 27:10 Read by Matthew Reece
Ch. VII: Efficiency through Inflection 29:50 Read by Bill Mosley
Ch. VIII: Concentration in Delivery 11:52 Read by Matthew Reece
Ch. IX: Force 24:16 Read by Matthew Reece
Ch. X: Feeling and Enthusiasm 25:03 Read by Matthew Reece
Ch. XI: Fluency through Preparation 14:02 Read by Roseanne Schmidt
Ch. XII: The Voice 15:25 Read by Roseanne Schmidt
Ch. XIII: Voice Charm 19:55 Read by Matthew Reece
Ch. XIV: Distinctness and Precision of Utterance 24:06 Read by Bill Mosley
Ch. XV: The Truth about Gesture 26:52 Read by TriciaG
Ch. XVI: Methods of Delivery 27:49 Read by Bill Mosley
Ch. XVII: Thought and Reserve Power 28:03 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. XVIII: Subject and Preparation 32:45 Read by Joe Mabry
Ch. XIX: Influencing by Exposition 27:07 Read by Availle
Ch. XX: Influencing by Description 39:26 Read by Availle
Ch. XXI: Influencing by Narration 30:34 Read by Availle
Ch. XXII: Influencing by Suggestion 36:53 Read by Availle
Ch. XXIII: Influencing by Argument 29:32 Read by Availle
Ch. XXIV: Influencing by Persuasion 29:20 Read by Availle
Ch. XXV: Influencing the Crowd 27:58 Read by Availle
Ch. XXVI: Riding the Winged Horse 24:51 Read by Paul Adams
Ch. XXVII: Growing a Vocabulary 18:52 Read by Paul Adams
Ch. XXVIII: Memory Training 23:32 Read by Paul Adams
Ch. XXIX: Right Thinking and Personality 12:24 Read by Paul Adams
Ch. XXX: After-Dinner and Other Occasional Speaking 21:37 Read by Paul Adams
Ch. XXXI: Making Conversation Effective 12:02 Read by Paul Adams
App. A: 50 Questions for Debate 6:53 Read by Paul Adams
App. B: 30 Themes for Speeches with Source-References 5:21 Read by Paul Adams
App. C: Suggestive Subjects for Speeches; Hints for Treatment 13:58 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Newell Dwight Hillis 33:24 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Henry Watterson 5:15 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - John Morley 29:30 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Robert Toombs 20:07 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Theodore Roosevelt 25:51 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Alton B. Parker 3:56 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - John W. Wescott 5:54 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Henry W. Grady 49:40 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - William Mc. Kinley 17:14 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - John Hay 20:51 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - William Jennings Bryan 56:44 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Rufus Choate 20:49 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Albert J. Beveridge 48:23 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Russell Conwell 1:12:06 Read by Paul Adams
App. D: Speeches for Study and Practice - Victor Hugo 8:09 Read by Paul Adams

Reviews

this is one of d best book on d topic i wish i read it earlier


(4 stars)

Where can I see the text


(5 stars)

Do you know where I can see the text of the book?

Great book. So-So readers.


(2.5 stars)

While the book itself was great there were a couple of readers who took away from the context. The foreign lady who mispronounced a multitude of words and Paul Allen who read the appendices while screaming all of the speeches. It got to the point if annoyance that I just read the book myself rather than being screamed at.

Book inspirational, readers a bit less


(3.5 stars)

Many practical, theorical and 'to study' material

Old but timless


(5 stars)

this book might be old but it is definitely very useful I have helped me from hallways getting nervous before audience to been fluent

i was just a good thing and tutto and i iiiuuiuiiiiiiuuuuu uiiii


(5 stars)

Elle Maree


(3.5 stars)

Only on Chapter 8, but its great for background as I work around house on Saturday. Hoping useful tips sink in by osmosis ;-) but voices are smooth and consistent, helpful I’m sure to learning the material when one does wish to learn it. Dale Carnegie is so precise in his descriptiveness - so far still stand the test of time. Thanks, volunteers.

The most useful books I have ever came across


(5 stars)

With some of the most fascinating insights, this book remains a base for all of those who love public speaking