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Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot
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 host of the popular Think Fast, Talk Smart The Podcast .
Many of us dread having to convey our ideas to others, often feeling ill-equipped, anxious, and awkward. Public speaking experts help by focusing on planned communication experiences such as slide presentations, pitches, or formal talks. Yet, most of our professional and personal communication occurs in spontaneous situations that creep up on us and all too often leave us flustered and stumbling for words. How can we rise to the occasion and shine when we’re put on the spot?
In Think Faster, Talk Smarter , Stanford lecturer, podcast host, and communication expert Matt Abrahams provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously. Abrahams provides science-based strategies for managing anxiety, responding to the mood of the room, and making content concise, relevant, compelling, and memorable. Drawing on stories from his clients and students, he offers best practices for navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others, and handling other impromptu speaking tasks.
Whether it’s a prospective client asking you an unexpected question during a meeting or all eyes turning to you at a dinner party, you’ll know how to navigate the situation like a pro and bring out your very best. Think Faster, Talk Smarter is an accessible guide to communication that will help you master new techniques in no time.
Many of us dread having to convey our ideas to others, often feeling ill-equipped, anxious, and awkward. Public speaking experts help by focusing on planned communication experiences such as slide presentations, pitches, or formal talks. Yet, most of our professional and personal communication occurs in spontaneous situations that creep up on us and all too often leave us flustered and stumbling for words. How can we rise to the occasion and shine when we’re put on the spot?
In Think Faster, Talk Smarter , Stanford lecturer, podcast host, and communication expert Matt Abrahams provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously. Abrahams provides science-based strategies for managing anxiety, responding to the mood of the room, and making content concise, relevant, compelling, and memorable. Drawing on stories from his clients and students, he offers best practices for navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others, and handling other impromptu speaking tasks.
Whether it’s a prospective client asking you an unexpected question during a meeting or all eyes turning to you at a dinner party, you’ll know how to navigate the situation like a pro and bring out your very best. Think Faster, Talk Smarter is an accessible guide to communication that will help you master new techniques in no time.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
4386 people are currently reading
12294 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
March 24, 2025
1-) What- So what- Now what (small talk)
2-) WHY: why are we here-how are we connected-offer anecdotes/lessons - give thanks (Toast)
3-) Problem - Solution - Benefit (Pitching)
4-) ADD: Answer Question - Detail examples to support your answer- Describe benefit that explain why answer is relevant to asker (Q&A)
5-) 4I: Provide information, explain impact, extend invitation, detail the implications. (Feedbacks)
6-) AAA: acknowledge offending behavior, appreciate how offense impacted others, detail how to make amends. (Apologies)
2-) WHY: why are we here-how are we connected-offer anecdotes/lessons - give thanks (Toast)
3-) Problem - Solution - Benefit (Pitching)
4-) ADD: Answer Question - Detail examples to support your answer- Describe benefit that explain why answer is relevant to asker (Q&A)
5-) 4I: Provide information, explain impact, extend invitation, detail the implications. (Feedbacks)
6-) AAA: acknowledge offending behavior, appreciate how offense impacted others, detail how to make amends. (Apologies)
October 16, 2023
This was a super quick read, and fell right in line with a lot of the self help meets businesses style books.
While there wasn’t anything especially groundbreaking in there, it’s absolutely worth a read if you don’t read a ton of books in this vein.
While there wasn’t anything especially groundbreaking in there, it’s absolutely worth a read if you don’t read a ton of books in this vein.
June 8, 2024
cartea asta poate fi de real ajutor dacă vrei să-ți imbunătățești discursul spontan.
January 14, 2024
Last Self-help book of 2023!
Well-structured chapters with enough examples, scenarios, structures, and takeaways. But I have to say, you won’t gain the benefits from it until you apply those structures to your life, especially in work environments. There is no one-size-fits-all structure that works for all situations. Try to learn more and find the one that suits you, then you will have a powerful weapon (hints) when you’re put on the spot.
I would also suggest listening to the “Think Faster Talk Smart” podcast before or when you start to read this book to see if you'd like to know more about communication methods or not.
Special thanks to Zoe, who brought my interest to this book and provided plenty of useful insights and sharing, giving me a deeper understanding of spontaneous communication. And this reading experience taught me how to read this kind of book with heart.
Well-structured chapters with enough examples, scenarios, structures, and takeaways. But I have to say, you won’t gain the benefits from it until you apply those structures to your life, especially in work environments. There is no one-size-fits-all structure that works for all situations. Try to learn more and find the one that suits you, then you will have a powerful weapon (hints) when you’re put on the spot.
I would also suggest listening to the “Think Faster Talk Smart” podcast before or when you start to read this book to see if you'd like to know more about communication methods or not.
Special thanks to Zoe, who brought my interest to this book and provided plenty of useful insights and sharing, giving me a deeper understanding of spontaneous communication. And this reading experience taught me how to read this kind of book with heart.
June 21, 2023
I was really pleased to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I've listened to several episodes of Matt Abrahams' podcast on communication and find it a fascinating and, for me, very relevant subject.
I have a job in which communication is really important and I'm definitely a words person. However while I'm confident in written communication, verbally - especially off the cuff - is a different matter. I flounder, can't find words, fail to finish sentences, and lose my train of thought. So, I was very keen to learn some strategies and techniques for communicating better "in the moment".
Matt Abrahams definitely provides these, with numerous very practical ideas, techniques and examples. Part I discusses a six step methodology to improving our ability to speak spontaneously; Part II considers specific situations such as small talk, pitching, giving feedback to others. He uses a lot of "formulas" to structure the content of what we are saying - I can see these are effective - the only issue for me is likely to be (a) remembering them and (b) remembering to apply them in the moment! I'll probably need to reread a lot of these sections to internalise it a bit more. He does provide lots of ideas for trying out the techniques so there's no excuse really for not using and benefiting from them. I guess it's all about practice....
A very interesting and approachable read which does what it promises and which I'm sure will be very helpful to all those of us who tend to freeze, panic and waffle when put on the spot.
I have a job in which communication is really important and I'm definitely a words person. However while I'm confident in written communication, verbally - especially off the cuff - is a different matter. I flounder, can't find words, fail to finish sentences, and lose my train of thought. So, I was very keen to learn some strategies and techniques for communicating better "in the moment".
Matt Abrahams definitely provides these, with numerous very practical ideas, techniques and examples. Part I discusses a six step methodology to improving our ability to speak spontaneously; Part II considers specific situations such as small talk, pitching, giving feedback to others. He uses a lot of "formulas" to structure the content of what we are saying - I can see these are effective - the only issue for me is likely to be (a) remembering them and (b) remembering to apply them in the moment! I'll probably need to reread a lot of these sections to internalise it a bit more. He does provide lots of ideas for trying out the techniques so there's no excuse really for not using and benefiting from them. I guess it's all about practice....
A very interesting and approachable read which does what it promises and which I'm sure will be very helpful to all those of us who tend to freeze, panic and waffle when put on the spot.
December 30, 2024
ACHIEVE SPONTANEITY
Practical strategies to enhance spontaneous communication skills, such as public speaking, job interviews, and networking.
Abrahams provides science-based techniques for managing anxiety, engaging with the audience, and delivering concise, relevant, and memorable content.
He covers topics like navigating Q&A sessions, excelling in job interviews, offering effective feedback, making small talk, correcting mistakes, persuading others, and handling other impromptu speaking situations.
I personally found this essay incredibly simple, direct and fit for everyday situations. It addresses psychological challenges before offering practical advice, making it both relatable and actionable.
Practical strategies to enhance spontaneous communication skills, such as public speaking, job interviews, and networking.
Abrahams provides science-based techniques for managing anxiety, engaging with the audience, and delivering concise, relevant, and memorable content.
He covers topics like navigating Q&A sessions, excelling in job interviews, offering effective feedback, making small talk, correcting mistakes, persuading others, and handling other impromptu speaking situations.
I personally found this essay incredibly simple, direct and fit for everyday situations. It addresses psychological challenges before offering practical advice, making it both relatable and actionable.
March 16, 2024
Coulda been a blog post.
January 16, 2025
womp womp
March 31, 2025
Heard this author speak at Stanford. Wanted to check out his book and learned some helpful tips while he used several real examples.
June 23, 2024
For someone who's strength is not communication, I found the tips and techniques in this book useful. Particularly the anxiety management technique when it comes to spontaneous speaking.
November 18, 2024
Meget anderledes end det jeg normalt læser, men virkelig godt skrevet og sindssyge gode tips til formidling
March 26, 2024
I imagine that Matt Abrahams writes the way he talks. If Abrahams were one of my students, this would be a critique meaning I discourage my students from writing rambling run-on sentences. But Abrahams writes enviable smart, engaging, succinct, easily digestible stories and tips to help his readers think faster and talk smarter.
Part one begins with the self and encourages communicators to self-reflect by 1) acknowledging and managing anxieties 2) preventing perfectionism 3) being open minded, 4) listening actively, 5) intentionally structuring content, and 6) remaining succinct, focused, and compelling. These tips apply to any spontaneous speaking situation. Entrepreneurs are asked for informal and formal pitches and field follow up questions all the time. Knowing how to keep your cool by breathing deeply, allowing yourself to learn from your misspeaks, and always being open to feedback will make each impromptu interaction stronger than the last.
Specifically, Abrahams encourages communicators to approach the Q&A as “a dialogue with audience members rather than dodgeball” (172). On page 173, he offers the ADD method as an acronym
A Answer the question: First, answer the question in a single, clear, declarative sentence
D Detail an example: Second, provide specific, concrete evidence that supports your answer
D Describe the value: Finally, provide the benefits that explain why your answer is relevant and salient to the asker
If you are pressed for time in a pitch competition, it is essential not to ramble through the Q&A. It diminishes your authority and your credibility. Instead, present answers as directly as possible. If a judge or investor is asking, that means they are ready for specifics that will help them make the best evaluation possible of your business. If you don’t know then say so. When you do know, support your answer with a single, concrete example that substantiates your claim. Remember the Q&A is no longer about what you want to say; it’s about what your questioner needs to hear to evaluate you, your business, and your team favorably. Provide a handful of focused details that help them do just that, and just in case the audience has not completely connected the dots, describe why your answer is a salient response to the question.
Abrams also suggests that even though you don’t know what might be asked of you, you should still prepare in advance. Practice your pitch enough times that you know it’s tight and you’ve already answered the basic questions that might be asked. Perhaps, you structure your pitch in a way that opens the door for more in depth questions you want to be asked and are prepared to answer but did not have time to address in the pitch. Another pro-tip he offers is asking yourself a question if no one has any. You might say, “People often ask____,” insert a question you are prepared to answer, and then satisfactorily answer it. It will usually inspire other questions and if not, at least one question will be asked and answered. Finally, don’t drop the mic and walk off the pitching stage when time is up. Conclude your Q&A by reminding the audience of your key message. Insert your tag or a takeaway before or after you say thank you and exit the stage.
Abrahams’ book is full of other tips about how to focus and structure spontaneous communication. I particularly like his What-So What-Now What structure than can be used across opportunities to introduce an idea to an audience, share why it is important, and explain what the audience should do with the information. This pattern as well as his problem-solution-benefit methodology may also be useful for pitch content as well as Q&A.
Think Faster, Talk Smarter is filled with tripartite lists, acronyms, and examples which definitely have made me sound smarter in spontaneous communication. Even if you don’t read it cover to cover, the book is an excellent reference for networking, speaking in meetings, making introductions, facilitating toasts, elevator pitching, apologizing, and of course, crushing a pitch Q&A.
Part one begins with the self and encourages communicators to self-reflect by 1) acknowledging and managing anxieties 2) preventing perfectionism 3) being open minded, 4) listening actively, 5) intentionally structuring content, and 6) remaining succinct, focused, and compelling. These tips apply to any spontaneous speaking situation. Entrepreneurs are asked for informal and formal pitches and field follow up questions all the time. Knowing how to keep your cool by breathing deeply, allowing yourself to learn from your misspeaks, and always being open to feedback will make each impromptu interaction stronger than the last.
Specifically, Abrahams encourages communicators to approach the Q&A as “a dialogue with audience members rather than dodgeball” (172). On page 173, he offers the ADD method as an acronym
A Answer the question: First, answer the question in a single, clear, declarative sentence
D Detail an example: Second, provide specific, concrete evidence that supports your answer
D Describe the value: Finally, provide the benefits that explain why your answer is relevant and salient to the asker
If you are pressed for time in a pitch competition, it is essential not to ramble through the Q&A. It diminishes your authority and your credibility. Instead, present answers as directly as possible. If a judge or investor is asking, that means they are ready for specifics that will help them make the best evaluation possible of your business. If you don’t know then say so. When you do know, support your answer with a single, concrete example that substantiates your claim. Remember the Q&A is no longer about what you want to say; it’s about what your questioner needs to hear to evaluate you, your business, and your team favorably. Provide a handful of focused details that help them do just that, and just in case the audience has not completely connected the dots, describe why your answer is a salient response to the question.
Abrams also suggests that even though you don’t know what might be asked of you, you should still prepare in advance. Practice your pitch enough times that you know it’s tight and you’ve already answered the basic questions that might be asked. Perhaps, you structure your pitch in a way that opens the door for more in depth questions you want to be asked and are prepared to answer but did not have time to address in the pitch. Another pro-tip he offers is asking yourself a question if no one has any. You might say, “People often ask____,” insert a question you are prepared to answer, and then satisfactorily answer it. It will usually inspire other questions and if not, at least one question will be asked and answered. Finally, don’t drop the mic and walk off the pitching stage when time is up. Conclude your Q&A by reminding the audience of your key message. Insert your tag or a takeaway before or after you say thank you and exit the stage.
Abrahams’ book is full of other tips about how to focus and structure spontaneous communication. I particularly like his What-So What-Now What structure than can be used across opportunities to introduce an idea to an audience, share why it is important, and explain what the audience should do with the information. This pattern as well as his problem-solution-benefit methodology may also be useful for pitch content as well as Q&A.
Think Faster, Talk Smarter is filled with tripartite lists, acronyms, and examples which definitely have made me sound smarter in spontaneous communication. Even if you don’t read it cover to cover, the book is an excellent reference for networking, speaking in meetings, making introductions, facilitating toasts, elevator pitching, apologizing, and of course, crushing a pitch Q&A.
July 15, 2025
1 1/2
Lots of bullet points, anecdotes, and "studies show", yet says a lot that is already simplistic anxiety help, this could be in a page.
Then the situations which are made up seem robotically described reasoning with usually 3 bullet points and several one, two punches, to get the point across as why but really it is so obvious so don't need it. If someone dies, you say "my thoughts are with you", no I would not respond with that, that is what AI would tell you to reply, but also giving the reasons just are not needed.
This isn't going to make you "think faster" might help you with anxiety, but is not new and could be summarized in a page, and really does not have faster or smarter "spontaneous speaking". It is think, practice and then when it occurs, reflect and slow, which is not spontaneity yet is said a lot. Breathe.
Really I think this is mainly made with AI. The author might have outlined it and edited but it sounds repetitive and looked up. Got this from the library, Libby. And think it is a waste of money for the library. It is read by the author and he actual does a good job, probably from being a podcaster. Still didn't like it as it drones with bullet points without real thought So a hard no from me.
Lots of bullet points, anecdotes, and "studies show", yet says a lot that is already simplistic anxiety help, this could be in a page.
Then the situations which are made up seem robotically described reasoning with usually 3 bullet points and several one, two punches, to get the point across as why but really it is so obvious so don't need it. If someone dies, you say "my thoughts are with you", no I would not respond with that, that is what AI would tell you to reply, but also giving the reasons just are not needed.
This isn't going to make you "think faster" might help you with anxiety, but is not new and could be summarized in a page, and really does not have faster or smarter "spontaneous speaking". It is think, practice and then when it occurs, reflect and slow, which is not spontaneity yet is said a lot. Breathe.
Really I think this is mainly made with AI. The author might have outlined it and edited but it sounds repetitive and looked up. Got this from the library, Libby. And think it is a waste of money for the library. It is read by the author and he actual does a good job, probably from being a podcaster. Still didn't like it as it drones with bullet points without real thought So a hard no from me.
February 13, 2024
Good for what it is but I realize that I a) probably didn't need it and b) it would be super helpful if I had something specific (anxiety around speaking, confusion with pitches, etc). I'll likely review it as I begin work but till then rest assured I'll simply enjoy not speaking to anyone during my time unemployed :)
January 30, 2024
Still can’t public speak
May 12, 2025
Autorul, prin “Gândește mai repede, vorbește mai inteligent”, ne ajută să ne îmbunătățim comunicarea spontană (vorbitul în public, participarea la interviuri). Cum? Folosind diverse strategii bazate pe știință pentru gestionarea anxietății.
Matt Abrahams oferă abilitățile tangibile și ușor de pus în practică pentru a ajuta chiar și pe cel mai anxios dintre vorbitori. Conținutul trebuie să fie concis, relevant și convingător.
Cartea reprezintă un ghid accesibil de comunicare cu capitole bine structurate, cu suficiente exemple, scenarii, structuri și concluzii.
Nu este o carte care, după ce o vei citi, va face minuni. Nu. Trebuie să pui în practică, în fiecare zi, puțin câte puțin.
Dacă ești anxios și ai probleme cu comunicarea spontană, eu zic să o treci pe listă 🙂
Matt Abrahams oferă abilitățile tangibile și ușor de pus în practică pentru a ajuta chiar și pe cel mai anxios dintre vorbitori. Conținutul trebuie să fie concis, relevant și convingător.
Cartea reprezintă un ghid accesibil de comunicare cu capitole bine structurate, cu suficiente exemple, scenarii, structuri și concluzii.
Nu este o carte care, după ce o vei citi, va face minuni. Nu. Trebuie să pui în practică, în fiecare zi, puțin câte puțin.
Dacă ești anxios și ai probleme cu comunicarea spontană, eu zic să o treci pe listă 🙂
January 11, 2025
Really enjoyed this listen - though I do really need to purchase the hard copy. Extremely helpful tips with great examples that help it to not feel too “textbook-y”. Saying that, it is a bit of a handbook and I’d highly recommend getting the physical copy. I think it’s one you could pick up and jump in at various points depending on what type of speaking engagement you’re preparing for.
March 25, 2025
Really practical and helpful. I recently went totally blank in a meeting where I needed to respond to an executive’s question and was really hard on myself after. This book has helped me give myself grace, and also is leaving me empowered and equipped for any type of spontaneous speaking situation that comes my way (small talk, Q&A, apologies, etc!)
Will probably revisit this, and I can see myself recommending this to others who are anxious about public speaking, etc.
Will probably revisit this, and I can see myself recommending this to others who are anxious about public speaking, etc.
August 4, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️
I read this in preparation for speaking at a conference (scary!!!) I really liked the first half of the book and I gained some really good tools to deal with my speaking anxiety. I didn’t particularly enjoy the examples of scenarios, the language used to respond to people felt very unrealistic, who talks like that?!
All in all, would recommend if you are anxious about speaking!
I read this in preparation for speaking at a conference (scary!!!) I really liked the first half of the book and I gained some really good tools to deal with my speaking anxiety. I didn’t particularly enjoy the examples of scenarios, the language used to respond to people felt very unrealistic, who talks like that?!
All in all, would recommend if you are anxious about speaking!
November 10, 2025
minus one star cause I didn't think think faster and talk smarter, but just talked faster in the UN interview, which technically wasn't the book's fault, but it's just easier to have something else to blame
May 10, 2025
This was so helpful but silly me took no notes while listening to the audiobook so I will definitely have to re-read/re-listen
February 20, 2024
The subtitle of this book indicates this is a work focusing on how to improve success when speaking in sudden situations where you've had no time to prepare. But nearly (not all, but nearly) every bit of advice or instruction here is based on the assumption you've had time to sit down, plan out, rehearse and deliver your communication beforehand.
Does this feel like a bait and switch to you? Because it does to me.
The book is filled with this essential gist.
"Being put on the spot and having to speak spontaneously in an unexpected situation is stressful and requires quick thinking. That's why it's important to use these tips to carefully plan out everything you will say in advance!"
This is a contradiction.
There is good advice here. I highlighted stuff. But I feel pretty irked at how this was marketed.
Does this feel like a bait and switch to you? Because it does to me.
The book is filled with this essential gist.
"Being put on the spot and having to speak spontaneously in an unexpected situation is stressful and requires quick thinking. That's why it's important to use these tips to carefully plan out everything you will say in advance!"
This is a contradiction.
There is good advice here. I highlighted stuff. But I feel pretty irked at how this was marketed.
April 17, 2025
This was so corporate/buisness oriented it made me uncomfy. It was like he was explaining to robots how to preform empathy to people. Just weird. A lot of it was such obvious stuff too. There maybe were a few things in here that could be helpful?? But oof. Idk not really. I was hoping this would have more a scientific/psychological approach to it, but nahhhh. The author does seem nice though, and I’m sure he means well. Maybe it will help the robots of the world be better people so idk 🤷♀️ just not for me
April 21, 2024
Came to that book after listening to an interview with the author of it. Got very curious and bought it immediately, since he was very compelling and intriguing.
The book is well structured but the content is quite obvious. It’s filled with anecdotes of different people and - haven’t done the math, but - could’ve been printed on 20 pages in total…
The book is well structured but the content is quite obvious. It’s filled with anecdotes of different people and - haven’t done the math, but - could’ve been printed on 20 pages in total…
May 22, 2024
Read this because someone told me it was good for interview. I can sum it up in a word: breathe
Read
October 15, 2023Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully when you're put on the Spot
Author: Matt Abrahams
Genre:
Published by Pan Macmillan India
Pages: 244
MRP: Rs. 799/-
Thank you Pan Macmillan India for a Media Copy of the book.
"The whole world is sitting with one camera" and you are like "Look, my dress is nice, isn't it?"
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully when you're put on the Spot
is one such book that will teach you how to speak spontaneously and remain measured when suddenly put in front of the camera.
How many times has it happened that we are randomly identified in a Q&A session or informal gathering and the spotlight is put on us - and we panic! Spontaneous speaking can be quite challenging and scary. But in Matt Abrahams' book, those techniques have been described that will prepare you for comfortable and confident spontaneous speaking.
Abrahams first deals with all of our anxiety and how it can be reduced, starting from mindfulness and breathing techniques to positive self-talk and avoiding jargon. The point is clear - if you are anxious then you will be distracted and have trouble connecting with your audience. So calming your mind first is essential.
Then Abrahams teaches how to embrace our spontaneity by leaving perfectionism. According to him, there is no 'right' or 'perfect' way in spontaneous speaking - there are only better and worse ways. The less we judge ourselves and just keep connecting, the better it is. The pursuit of perfection kills our creativity and increases our anxiety.
Continue reading the review here: https://www.keetabikeeda.in/post/mast...
Author: Matt Abrahams
Genre:
Published by Pan Macmillan India
Pages: 244
MRP: Rs. 799/-
Thank you Pan Macmillan India for a Media Copy of the book.
"The whole world is sitting with one camera" and you are like "Look, my dress is nice, isn't it?"
Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully when you're put on the Spot
is one such book that will teach you how to speak spontaneously and remain measured when suddenly put in front of the camera.
How many times has it happened that we are randomly identified in a Q&A session or informal gathering and the spotlight is put on us - and we panic! Spontaneous speaking can be quite challenging and scary. But in Matt Abrahams' book, those techniques have been described that will prepare you for comfortable and confident spontaneous speaking.
Abrahams first deals with all of our anxiety and how it can be reduced, starting from mindfulness and breathing techniques to positive self-talk and avoiding jargon. The point is clear - if you are anxious then you will be distracted and have trouble connecting with your audience. So calming your mind first is essential.
Then Abrahams teaches how to embrace our spontaneity by leaving perfectionism. According to him, there is no 'right' or 'perfect' way in spontaneous speaking - there are only better and worse ways. The less we judge ourselves and just keep connecting, the better it is. The pursuit of perfection kills our creativity and increases our anxiety.
Continue reading the review here: https://www.keetabikeeda.in/post/mast...
Read
September 14, 2025This is sort of a self-help book for communication I believe? I figured reading this one couldn't hurt as someone with social anxiety who does still struggle with public speaking even in my twenties. I'm catching up on old reviews, so it's been a minute since I read this one, but here are some of my notes -
Six Steps from "Think Faster, Talk Smarter":
My strongest area to this day is definitely Step 4, and Step 5 is a recommendation I'd heard quite a bit from my dad actually.
Overall this definitely isn't going to heal or fix any communication problems but I think it wasn't a bad place to start, and could help build a foundation for your own future efforts
Six Steps from "Think Faster, Talk Smarter":
1. Acknowledge public speaking is nerve wracking - develop personalized anxiety management plan
2. Reflect on approach and judgement regarding communication
3. Adopt new mindsets, reframe mistakes as "missed takes", take risks
4. Actively listen to others
5. Utilize story structure
6. Focus audiences on essence
My strongest area to this day is definitely Step 4, and Step 5 is a recommendation I'd heard quite a bit from my dad actually.
Overall this definitely isn't going to heal or fix any communication problems but I think it wasn't a bad place to start, and could help build a foundation for your own future efforts
June 14, 2024
Because I listened to this on audiobook, and maybe also the narration style, I definitely felt like I was a sad character in a 90s movie popping in a self-help cassette when I began this. It was a little different than I was expecting, providing advice and practice for all of the following: speaking eloquently in off-the-cuff situations, presenting, conversations, other interactions such as apologizing. I was expecting it to be mostly the first of those, based on the title. The remaining subjects I’ve read about before in other self help and business books such as Difficult Conversations. That being the case, I still found the book to be organized well and very helpful. I will probably be referencing it again in the future. My partner and others close to me would almost certainly appreciate me using some of the storytelling suggestions elaborated on..
August 22, 2024
This is a good book for anyone wanting to improve their communication, especially those with anxiety. The ideas about small talk were particularly interesting.
The four star rating is for the first 65% of the book. I give the rest of the book three stars merely because it is suited to speaking in professional/public situations. Those will seldom fit our purposes.
The only problem I found with the book was the author's misunderstanding of oxygen and carbon dioxide:
Decreasing CO2 in the lungs doesn't decrease anxiety. Actually, it is the opposite. That is why we breathe into paper bags.
In the author's defense, they were repeating what they heard on Andrew Huberman's podcast (and admitted to doing so).
The four star rating is for the first 65% of the book. I give the rest of the book three stars merely because it is suited to speaking in professional/public situations. Those will seldom fit our purposes.
The only problem I found with the book was the author's misunderstanding of oxygen and carbon dioxide:
Decreasing CO2 in the lungs doesn't decrease anxiety. Actually, it is the opposite. That is why we breathe into paper bags.
In the author's defense, they were repeating what they heard on Andrew Huberman's podcast (and admitted to doing so).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews