Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)
by Garr Reynolds
book data
229 ratings,
4.22
average rating, 75 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
January 4th 2007
by New Riders Press
binding
Paperback, 240 pages
isbn
0321525655
(isbn13: 9780321525659)
description
Featuring a foreword by Guy Kawasaki, Presentation Zen will help presenters see the process in a way that is different, simpler, more visual, more n...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Readers: Presentations | 2 | 23 | 04/20/2009 11:03AM | |
| Strategic Planning: Presentations | 1 | 12 | 12/15/2008 01:45PM |
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 508)
All ratings
|
5 stars (104)
|
4 stars (84)
|
3 stars (31)
|
2 stars (8)
|
1 star (2)
|
avg 4.22
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
09/05/08
lindn
marked it as to-read
Why I should read this from HFI email newsletter:
If you haven't "read" this book you should definitely get your hands on a copy. It's full of pictures and lots of examples. It's not about usability or user interface design per se, but it is all about how to display information and present your ideas visually.
We know that showing PowerPoint slides with tons of bullet points is not a good idea, but exactly what ARE we supposed to do instead. This book shows you wh...more
If you haven't "read" this book you should definitely get your hands on a copy. It's full of pictures and lots of examples. It's not about usability or user interface design per se, but it is all about how to display information and present your ideas visually.
We know that showing PowerPoint slides with tons of bullet points is not a good idea, but exactly what ARE we supposed to do instead. This book shows you wh...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in June, 2009
Effective presentation skills is the "killer app" that can set us apart from others in the real world; whether it be teaching, working at a non-profit/ministry, or working in the business world. At some point, we will have to present something, and being able to do a sensational job doing so will dramatically improve our effectiveness.
I tagged this book in my Amazon wish list when I first saw about six months ago, and then just got it as I'm gearing up to teach/present a fe...more
I tagged this book in my Amazon wish list when I first saw about six months ago, and then just got it as I'm gearing up to teach/present a fe...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
pastors, speakers, designers, marketing, EXECUTIVES
Less is more.
Use full screen imagery to convey your point.
Use pleasing color schemes.
Use san-serif fonts.
Those four sentences sum up what Presentation Zen is all about. I know some may say I don't get it. I do. I just don't think all the zen info helped. The author really didn't need to use them to prove his point. Just the comparison of slides was enough.
However, this book did change the way I present my messages and talks to teens as ...more
Use full screen imagery to convey your point.
Use pleasing color schemes.
Use san-serif fonts.
Those four sentences sum up what Presentation Zen is all about. I know some may say I don't get it. I do. I just don't think all the zen info helped. The author really didn't need to use them to prove his point. Just the comparison of slides was enough.
However, this book did change the way I present my messages and talks to teens as ...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in April, 2009
Great book if you ever have to give any sort of presentations...
Wonderful advice like:
design your presnetations in analog i.e. use paper/pencil, not use the computer.
No bullet points
The slides should be useless without the presenter
Hara Hachi Bu (Eat until you are 80% full) aka leave the audience wanting more.
Practice, practice, practice.
Wabi Sabi (poverty - free from depending on worldly things, lonliness - alone and in deep contemplation)
...more
Wonderful advice like:
design your presnetations in analog i.e. use paper/pencil, not use the computer.
No bullet points
The slides should be useless without the presenter
Hara Hachi Bu (Eat until you are 80% full) aka leave the audience wanting more.
Practice, practice, practice.
Wabi Sabi (poverty - free from depending on worldly things, lonliness - alone and in deep contemplation)
...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2009
I learned more about presentations from this book than I ever thought possible.
The audience is there to hear you speak, not to read your slides. You should be selling something to them - convincing them of something. If you're just giving them information, why didn't you just send them a document?
Give presentations like Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates. Bill Gates is unremarkable.
Keep the text on slides to a minimum - no more than six words on a slide.
...more
The audience is there to hear you speak, not to read your slides. You should be selling something to them - convincing them of something. If you're just giving them information, why didn't you just send them a document?
Give presentations like Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates. Bill Gates is unremarkable.
Keep the text on slides to a minimum - no more than six words on a slide.
...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I've enjoyed the Presentation Zen site for quite a while. So, when I saw that the author of that site had put out a book, I had to take a look.
Like all of the stuff on his site and in conference presentations, etc. I've really found his message to be one that resonates with me. I'm still struggling with how to apply the "zen" approach to Powerpoint in more technical presentations, as opposed to the inspirational and conceptual presentations that dominate the examples, but it'...more
Like all of the stuff on his site and in conference presentations, etc. I've really found his message to be one that resonates with me. I'm still struggling with how to apply the "zen" approach to Powerpoint in more technical presentations, as opposed to the inspirational and conceptual presentations that dominate the examples, but it'...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This offers sound principles for marketing design and writing that work well outside the PowerPoint universe. It illustrates simple rules and a clear hierarchy of objectives. The book teaches in same coherent style that it advocates. An especially great guide for anyone whose job description grew to include presentations without previous training.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2009
Easier said than done, Mr. Garr. But I like simplicity and I do so hate what all those PowerPoint templates have done to my brain. And not even Apple Keynote has been able to stop me. So for those willing to battle the numbingly designed documents of our world, read this one.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2008
Very good book on simplifying presentations. Great list of "don't dos". Only problem with a book that has such a simple, if important, premise is that the concepts could have been covered in a dozen pages or , heh, a presentation. But authors have to eat I suppose.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2009
I agree with what is in this book. Please don't buy it, if you buy it don't read it, if you buy it and read it, please don't do what it says. I have been successful over the last 15 years because I practice what this book preaches.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2009
Part philosophy, part instructional. It didn't really tell me anything that I didn't already know except reminding me how to simplify not only my presentations, but the other chaos in my life. Beautiful book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2009
Presentation Zen is an excellent guide to creating PowerPoint presentations that people really want to see. Want to wow your audience and make them thankful they attended your presentation? Read this book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2009
Basically a gimmicky, book length version of Seth Godin's idea (available free online in PPT form). It's slick. It's got a few good ideas. But it's not worth buying. Borrow this if you need it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
02/15/09
Patrick
is currently reading it
A very different approach to making Powerpoint presentations. Useful and worth reading, but the point is made quickly and much of the remains of the book feels like padding.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2009
Very clear and concise book, which contains much valuable advice, not only for "designing" a presentation, but actually more about how to best approach working on a presentation.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
excellent book on the art of the presentation. Passing a test over the material contained in this book should be a prerequisite for purchasing PowerPoint or KeyNote
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
This is a beautifully presented, elegant book on designing better Power Point slides. If everyone followed its advice, the business world especially would be a better, happier, more elegant place! My only complaint with it is that when he goes beyond design issues and talks about content and delivery of presentations, his advice is too simple to be helpful, or to give a presenter a needed edge over the competition. It's not enough to say, for example, that you should structure your speech by ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2009
any teacher or business professional who gives presentations would check this delightful book out... a brilliant presentation on making ourselves much more interesting.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is my go-to reference when making presentations or helping others to make better presentations. Clean & simple makes for better presentations.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2009
Being at Microsoft, I've seen my fair share of crappy presentations. Anyone giving a presentation should be forced to read this book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
None found
groups with this book
