- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (May 27 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0375507361
- ISBN-13: 978-0375507366
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.5 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 454 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,675,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Howard, a successful stage actor and star of The White Shadow and Crossing Jordan, shares his gift for public speaking in a relaxed and conversational tone. Not employing your usual self-help jargon here, Howard reflects on what others have taught him (Stella Adler, Robert Lewis, and many famous actors), his experiences working as an actor, and how they can be applied to public speaking. The author gives examples that help to ease fear, increase self-esteem, add just enough emotion, and increase memory. Howard shows that the dread of speaking in front of an audience can decrease with breathing exercises, preparation, and practice; he also includes tricks that helped him memorize long passages. Anyone who has trouble giving speeches will find this very helpful as Howard demonstrates how a speaker can take command of an audience by sharing his or her insight or information in a relaxed, yet professional, manner, allowing the speaker's own personality to shine through. Michelle Kaske
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Drawing from courses he taught at Harvard and from his own distinguished career as a performer, Ken Howard demonstrates how we all can become more effective public speakers and communicators by learning how actors prepare for their roles.
Why is it that some actors are more impressive on stage or screen than others--even when they’re doing nothing? "Because," says Ken Howard, "they don’t seem to be acting; they appear real, as if they’re making up the dialogue as they go along." In fact, they’re acting like mad. According to Howard, currently starring in the NBC hit show Crossing Jordan, we can all appear more relaxed, confident, and spontaneous when we step into the limelight--whether for a speech, a presentation, a job interview, or before the PTA--by learning to act natural. Based on courses he taught to Harvard undergraduates and law students on applying Method acting techniques to public speaking, Act Natural demonstrates how we all play different roles in everyday life--as bosses and employees, buyers and sellers, spouses and children, teachers and students. Howard shows how we can sell our message and ourselves--not by "faking it," but by preparing hard and long to bring our best selves into the various roles we are asked to play.
In Act Natural, Howard explains why performance anxiety is not only normal, but is what fuels great performances; he shows how we can improve our memory and prepare to deliver speeches and other long presentations without notes. The ability to move an audience is something that good actors share with all great communicators, and Howard teaches us how to step in front of people and--just like De Niro or Pacino--create real emotion that will move an audience to tears or laughter. He brings his lessons to life with stories from his own career and from the experiences of other well-known actors. Whenever we’re not alone, we are all performers and public speakers. Act Natural helps us make the most of it.
Why is it that some actors are more impressive on stage or screen than others--even when they’re doing nothing? "Because," says Ken Howard, "they don’t seem to be acting; they appear real, as if they’re making up the dialogue as they go along." In fact, they’re acting like mad. According to Howard, currently starring in the NBC hit show Crossing Jordan, we can all appear more relaxed, confident, and spontaneous when we step into the limelight--whether for a speech, a presentation, a job interview, or before the PTA--by learning to act natural. Based on courses he taught to Harvard undergraduates and law students on applying Method acting techniques to public speaking, Act Natural demonstrates how we all play different roles in everyday life--as bosses and employees, buyers and sellers, spouses and children, teachers and students. Howard shows how we can sell our message and ourselves--not by "faking it," but by preparing hard and long to bring our best selves into the various roles we are asked to play.
In Act Natural, Howard explains why performance anxiety is not only normal, but is what fuels great performances; he shows how we can improve our memory and prepare to deliver speeches and other long presentations without notes. The ability to move an audience is something that good actors share with all great communicators, and Howard teaches us how to step in front of people and--just like De Niro or Pacino--create real emotion that will move an audience to tears or laughter. He brings his lessons to life with stories from his own career and from the experiences of other well-known actors. Whenever we’re not alone, we are all performers and public speakers. Act Natural helps us make the most of it.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have Book if You Ever Talk to More than One Person,
By Samuel H. McGuire (Taylorville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Act Natural: How to Speak to Any Audience (Hardcover)
This book, written by Ken Howard, a star of stage, screen and television and an experienced teacher at presigious schools, breaks new ground for those of us who dread to face the frightening task of speaking in public.Howard draws on his extensive background to give you effective methods to overcome stage fright (you really don't want to eliminate it.) His advice on developing your memory for any kind of speaking situation -- whether addressing a sales conference or handling a job interview, is outstanding. Howard uses techniques advocated by famous actors' coaches to strengthen your performance and to do it naturally. Readers of this book will be impressed with the improvement they will make. In fact, as a long-time student of how to improve my public speaking, I believe you'll find some individual chapters worth the price of the entire book. I know I did.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews) 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have Book if You Ever Talk to More than One Person,
By Samuel H. McGuire - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Act Natural: How to Speak to Any Audience (Hardcover)
This book, written by Ken Howard, a star of stage, screen and television and an experienced teacher at presigious schools, breaks new ground for those of us who dread to face the frightening task of speaking in public.Howard draws on his extensive background to give you effective methods to overcome stage fright (you really don't want to eliminate it.) His advice on developing your memory for any kind of speaking situation -- whether addressing a sales conference or handling a job interview, is outstanding. Howard uses techniques advocated by famous actors' coaches to strengthen your performance and to do it naturally. Readers of this book will be impressed with the improvement they will make. In fact, as a long-time student of how to improve my public speaking, I believe you'll find some individual chapters worth the price of the entire book. I know I did. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dread Public Speaking? Invest in this book...,
By D. Kanigan - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Act Natural: How to Speak to Any Audience (Hardcover)
Ken Howard, distinguished stage actor and Harvard U. instructor, shares his success factors in public speaking. He writes in a conversational tone and uses his personal experiences making this book easy to read and absorb. He gives examples to help reduce the fear of public speaking along with tips to increase memory. He explains how a speaker can share his/her insights in a professional manner and at this same time let your personality come through. I found Act Natural to be one of the more useful books that I have read on this subject. Paragraph headings include:1) Making Fear Your Ally 2) Acting is what you Do 3) The Speaker Prepares - Structure and Storytelling 4) Discovering Your Photographic Memory 5) Getting Real - The Power of Emotion 6) Persuading Them 7) Taking Your Act into any Room 8) Letting Go 9) Some Concluding Words About Words 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Advice from the White Shadow,
By R. J. Marsella - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Act Natural: How to Speak to Any Audience (Hardcover)
Ken Howard has written an excellent and practical guide to public speaking. From preparation to techniques to control and harness stage fright , this book provides solid useful tips that work for me. I have used this book to prepare for several large audience presentations and found the advice very helpful
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