Why Must Read Winning at Persuasion for Lawyers: The Art and Science of Public Speaking at Hearings and Trials?

This book is a how-to manual on oral and visual presentation for lawyers, and can help those at all levels, from beginner to advanced. New lawyers scared of public speaking can find encouraging resources and exercises. Experienced lawyers can find plenty to help hone their attack. I cannot summarize every point in the book, but remember that everything flows from how well you prepare as a lawyer. That may be trite, but presentation disasters are common in lawyering, and they usually happen because of weak preparation. The book gives you tools to help prepare for your presentation. Remember, you may have a great case, but nobody will ever realize that if you can't explain the case competently. The author talks about the importance of story to the human mind, the importance of using good visuals with your presentations, and how the 'Rule of Three' is a natural organizing principle. Everything, from gestures to word choice, should be carefully weighed. One of his best suggestions is, prepare the best possible presentation you can for your opponent's side, and see if you can counter that. I think that's a great way to make sure you are prepared for anything at trial or on appeal. The last third of the book examines great presenters throughout history, like Lincoln and Churchill, and features interviews with modern master advocates like Mark Lanier and Allyson Ho. The chapters on Lanier and Ho are particularly well done, and you can learn a lot from the interviews and Read's breakdown of some of the lawyers' key performances. The book closes with analysis of several excellent oral presentations, many by non-lawyer speakers. I agree that if you want to learn presentation, studying YouTube is a great way to find good speeches you can study. Highly recommend, whether you are new to presentation, or you've been at it a while and want to stay on top of your game.