Rating: 
Summary: Poignant history. You can hear it.
Review: Editorial content and writing much above average. Pictures add to impact. Must have been a challenge to select these speechs over some others. Read the text and bring back memories when you hear the CDs
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ - A MUST HEAR
Review: I can't think of a better book to give or receive. A must in everyones' library.
As we hear and read the brilliance and power of the twenty-one speeches they become more inspirational as we read Richard Greene's analysis and most interesting, informative background material. The photos further enhance the written words.
We knew that these outstanding speeches, by outstanding men and women, shaped our lives, and now we know why.
Richard Greene made an excellant choice of communicators that the world will long remember.
Rating: 
Summary: on second thought
Review: I was going to read this book, that is until I saw that Princess Diana was included as one of the "epic speeches that shook the world". Give me a break!
Rating:
Summary: Poor selection
Review: I wouldn't touch a book that lists a speech delivered as an eulogy for Princess Diana as a something that 'shook the world'.It also suffers from the sin common to most Americans- being blind to most things that happen outside America. The author has no clue on what happened elsewhere in the world- for instance misses out on the powerful oratory of Nehru and Gandhi that to no small extent was reponsible for the British Empire to come crumbling down. Instead we have a roster of American presidents starting with Teddy Roosevelt and ending with Dubya.. Perhaps 'Words that shook America' or even 'Words that shook me' would have been a more accurate title.
Rating:
Summary: Ever give a speech? You need this book.
Review: I've been a speech coach, writer and teacher for 18 years, and there are many times in the past when I've wished I've had something like this book -- to use with clients, to quote from, to inspire students. All the greatest speeches of the last century are here, and they deserve study. To have many of them on a cd just adds to the usefulness of the book. You can hear the magnificent cadences of speakers like Kennedy and King, Jr and learn how it's done. For all those who give presentations or speeches -- or for anyone who cares about great rhetoric and moments when the world was changed by the collision of words and passion -- this book is a must-have.
Rating:
Summary: Total Inspiration!
Review: Oh my goodness. What an inspiration! With all of the negative things in politics and the news today what a wonderful refuge and inspiration to read about and read the words of these amazing men and women, and to hear them in their own voices. I never knew about Teddy Roosevelt's environmental speech way back in 1903, loved reading the entire "luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig, the entire "only thing to fear is fear itself" speech by FDR and the magical words of Einstein. Who knew that he could write and speak that brilliantly. But my favorites were Barbara Jordan, who sent chills down my spine with her amazing voice and, of course, reading the entire "I Have A Dream" speech with Mr. Greene's analysis of every paragraph. I knew it was great but, with this insight into WHY it was great it has become even more amazing to me. If only leaders spoke today, and lead today, like the leaders in this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Total Inspiration!
Review: Oh my goodness. What an inspiration! With all of the negative things in politics and the news today what a wonderful refuge and inspiration to read about and read the words of these amazing men and women, and to hear them in their own voices. I never knew about Teddy Roosevelt's environmental speech way back in 1903, loved reading the entire "luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig, the entire "only thing to fear is fear itself" speech by FDR and the magical words of Einstein. Who knew that he could write and speak that brilliantly. But my favorites were Barbara Jordan, who sent chills down my spine with her amazing voice and, of course, reading the entire "I Have A Dream" speech with Mr. Greene's analysis of every paragraph. I knew it was great but, with this insight into WHY it was great it has become even more amazing to me. If only leaders spoke today, and lead today, like the leaders in this book!!
Rating: 
Summary: Step back into history
Review: Richard Greene does an excellent job presenting the historical context of these important 20th century speeches and then provides a blow-by-blow analysis of what makes them great. For those of us who were not born yet or were too young to appreciate Churchill, FDR, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein and other great people of the 20th century this book is a wonderful way to go back in time and experience history. The book contains the full text of over 40 speeches and short excerpts from twenty of them on the two accompanying CDs. My only complaint is that the excerpts on the CD are too short. For example, the excerpt from Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech is only 39 seconds long. This is probably the best speech of the 20th century -- I would like to hear the whole thing. If the cost of producing the CDs is the reason for the short excerpts I would much rather hear the original speeches than the introductions by the book's author. I have no issues with the selection of the speeches. Yes, they are biased towards Americans, and some are perhaps there are better choices for a few of them, but with over 40 speeches included it is not a great loss to skip a few. Most of them are unequivocally great speeches and this book does a great job presenting them.
Rating:
Summary: Step back into history
Review: Richard Greene does an excellent job presenting the historical context of these important 20th century speeches and then provides a blow-by-blow analysis of what makes them great. For those of us who were not born yet or were too young to appreciate Churchill, FDR, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein and other great people of the 20th century this book is a wonderful way to go back in time and experience history. The book contains the full text of over 40 speeches and short excerpts from twenty of them on the two accompanying CDs. My only complaint is that the excerpts on the CD are too short. For example, the excerpt from Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech is only 39 seconds long. This is probably the best speech of the 20th century -- I would like to hear the whole thing. If the cost of producing the CDs is the reason for the short excerpts I would much rather hear the original speeches than the introductions by the book's author. I have no issues with the selection of the speeches. Yes, they are biased towards Americans, and some are perhaps there are better choices for a few of them, but with over 40 speeches included it is not a great loss to skip a few. Most of them are unequivocally great speeches and this book does a great job presenting them.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary Speeches, Extraordinary Book
Review: This book is fantastic... Richard Greene does an excellent job of shedding light on these historic speeches without ever losing the reader's attention. He humanizes the speaker, gives a context for the speech, and has incredible insight into WHY these speeches are so amazing. The CD is pure inspiration (and it's a great way to get your mind off of traffic!), and the book is an ideal conversation piece. I am thrilled to have a copy, and I recommend it as a holiday gift to kids, parents, and grandparents alike. Trust me when I say this book is timeless and truly exceptional.
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