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Rating: 
Summary: Solid Reference and Well Constructed
Review: For both beginning and advanced speakers -- really, anyone seeking to persuade others -- this is a FINE reference. The work is loaded with URLs and reference sources for research purposes. You'll definitely want to keep this book on the shelf within handy reach. The chapter on "Speaking to Persuade" is especially useful for getting commitment from others. I recommend the work particularly to business professionals who want good, solid advice on how to construct and deliver effective communications. In addition, the author has provided exceptionally well-integrated support materials to ensure proper understanding of the concepts. Teachers and trainers will find the bank of test materials and workshop exercises extremely helpful. Also, the CD presents highlights from such outstanding speakers as Barbara Bush, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Dole and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Summary: Remind me to sell this one back
Review: From the inauspiciously multicultural front cover to the very last page, this book definitely has not-so-subtle politically correct overtones; most notable is the section on avoiding overtly masculine language. Its political bent is unabashedly left-wing. As a speech book, however, there are actually some very helpful tips; I found the section on overcoming nervousness well-designed and thought out. The CD is little more than meretricious fluff. Overall, there is really little more than you could find in any serious speech book or even website; it is simply dumbed down for modern college students.
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Summary: Great book!
Review: Great information inside. I learned alot about writting as well as speaking!
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Summary: It's A Keeper
Review: I bought the book for a speech class, then had to drop the class. Although I dropped the class in time to receive a full refund on the book, I decided to keep it instead. Why keep it, you might ask, when I could get all of that cash back? The reason is this: I used to freeze up when speaking, even just introducing myself! With the help of The Art of Public Speaking, 7th edition, I am learning to overcome that reaction and can now concentrate on the content of my speech, which this book is also teaching me to prepare and present with confidence. I highly recommend it to students and non-students alike!
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Summary: Total garbage
Review: I cannot stress the point that if this were not required for many college public speaking courses, Stephen E. Lucas would probably be writing greeting cards at best and at worst, the ingredient label on a tube of toothpaste!
The author uses examples of persuasive speeches (with a liberal agenda) to a receptive (liberal) audience as his evidence that a well written, well delivered speech will influence the audience to the speakers view. Total cr^p! I wouldnt have bought this if it wasnt a required text and I am happy to be selling this liberal trash to some other poor unsuspecting student. I wonder if the college gets kickbacks from the publishing houses.
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Summary: A Text Book to Keep
Review: I have taught from this book for almost five years now; it is in its seventh edition, has a CD Rom now that includes video clips. The book is comprehensive, and no single semester course can cover everything in it; but I think it is a great book to teach from. First, it is WELL WRITTEN. Next, it is organized well. Finally, the speeches it contains are great examples---both student speeches, and those from the public sector. I recommend to all my students NOT to sell it, but to keep it for reference later.
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Summary: A Text Book to Keep
Review: I have taught from this book for almost five years now; it is in its seventh edition, has a CD Rom now that includes video clips. The book is comprehensive, and no single semester course can cover everything in it; but I think it is a great book to teach from. First, it is WELL WRITTEN. Next, it is organized well. Finally, the speeches it contains are great examples---both student speeches, and those from the public sector. I recommend to all my students NOT to sell it, but to keep it for reference later.
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Summary: left wing politics disguised as a textbook
Review: i must agree with the reviewer from North Carolina. this is supposed to be a textbook written to teach about public speaking. however, the author took every opportunity to spread his left wing political views instead of concentrating on the subject matter. if an author needs to use examples to prove his academic point, then the examples should be somewhat balanced instead of being entirely offensive to a portion of the audience. if you are not a left wing extremist, it is very easy to get into such disagreement with this author's political views that the academic lesson is obscured. in short, this book is not so much a public speaking textbook as it is a platform for left wing political ranting. it would better serve as a textbook if the class subject matter was political extremism.
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Summary: Right Wing Propaganda
Review: This book is so far to the right it makes Ronald Reagan look like a Neo-Liberal. The assumptions the text makes about the classical speaker-subject "transmitting" a message to a "critical" listening audience is so passe and laughably bankrupt the text should be shredded and used as filler for a big GOP elephant. Seriously, if you want to learn about rhetoric there are plently of well written textbooks for college educated audiences that do make the simplistic assumption and fabulous fallacies that comprise this textbook.
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