The sweaty palms, the shaky knees, the racing heartbeat—yes, public speaking can be quite an ordeal if you’re feeling less than confident. So how can we learn to command a room, deliver a powerful message, and stop feeling so gosh darn nervous? If you’d like to become a master public speaker, start by checking out the seven superb reads below.
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot
By Matt Abrahams
Develop the life-changing ability to excel in spontaneous communication situations—from public speaking to interviewing to networking—with these essential strategies from a Stanford lecturer, coach, and award-winning podcast host. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Matt Abrahams, in the Next Big Idea App
Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
By Mehdi Hasan
Arguments are everywhere―and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, an MSNBC host shows you how. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mehdi Hasan, in the Next Big Idea App
Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World
By Sally Susman
Pfizer’s trailblazing communications leader reveals how we can break through the noise to get our message across and make positive change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sally Susman, in the Next Big Idea App
I Have Something To Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection
By John Bowe
A veteran journalist discovers an ancient system of speech techniques for overcoming the fear of public speaking—and reveals how they can profoundly change our lives. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author John Bowe, in the Next Big Idea App
Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
By Tunde Oyeneyin
From the massively popular Peloton instructor, fitness star, and founder of SPEAK comes an empowering, inspiring book about how she transformed grief, setbacks, and flaws into growth, self-confidence, and triumph. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Tunde Oyeneyin, in the Next Big Idea App
Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication
By Vanessa Van Edwards
For anyone who wants to be heard at work, earn that overdue promotion, or win more clients, deals, and projects, the bestselling author of Captivate shares her advanced guide to improving professional relationships through the power of cues. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Vanessa Van Edwards, in the Next Big Idea App
Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less
By Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
The co-founders of Axios teach readers how to say more with less in virtually any format, sharing lessons learned from their decades of experience in media, business, and communications. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Mike Allen, in the Next Big Idea App
The Key Ideas in 15 Minutes
“If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books,” Roald Dahl once famously said. The only trouble is, reading even one book from cover to cover takes hours—and you may not have many hours to spare.
But imagine for a moment: What if you could read a groundbreaking new book every day? Or even better, what if you could invite a world-renowned thinker into your earbuds, where they personally describe the 5 key takeaways from their work in just 15 minutes?
With the Next Big Idea App, we’ve turned this fantasy into a reality. We partnered with hundreds of acclaimed authors to create “Book Bites,” short audio summaries of the latest nonfiction that are prepared and read aloud by the authors themselves. Discover cutting-edge leadership skills, productivity hacks, the science of happiness and well-being, and much more—all in the time it takes to drive to work or walk the dog.
Go Deeper with a Next Big Idea Club Membership
The Next Big Idea App is free for anyone to try—and if you love it, we invite you to become an official member of the Next Big Idea Club. Membership grants you unlimited access to Book Bites and unlocks early-release, ad-free episodes of our LinkedIn-partnered podcast. You also gain entry to our private online discussion group, where you can talk big ideas with fellow club members and join exclusive live Q&A sessions with featured authors.
For a more focused learning experience, we recommend a Hardcover or eBook Membership. Every few months, legendary authors and club curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink select two new nonfiction books as the must-reads of the season. We then send hardcover copies straight to your doorstep, or eBook versions to your favorite digital device. We also collaborate with the authors of selected books to produce original reading guides and premium video e-courses, 50-minute master classes that take you step by step through their most life-changing ideas. And yes, it’s all available through the Next Big Idea App.
Learn Faster, from the World’s Leading Thinkers
Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch, the Next Big Idea is here to help you work smarter and live better. Wake up with an always-fresh Idea of the Day, the perfect shot of inspiration to go with your morning coffee. Then dive into one of our Challenges, hand-picked collections of Book Bites that form crash courses in subjects like communication, motivation, and career acceleration. Later, watch the playback of an interview with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, or philosopher John Kaag. And be sure to check the “Events” tab in the app, so that you can join an upcoming live Q&A and personally chat with the next featured thought leader.
If you’re hoping to grow as a person or as a professional, we hope you’ll join us and tens of thousands of others who enjoy the Next Big Idea. Get started by downloading the app today!
