I Have a Dream: The Speeches That Changed History

by Ferdie Addis

To read of Elizabeth I addressing her troops before the Spanish Armada, or Martin Luther- King urging the American population for racial equality is to understand the tremendous power of language to inspire, to comfort, to move, or to enthuse an audience. It is inspiring to hear the words of people whose gift was to know what to say, when to say it, and how to phrase it, often in language so powerful, so eloquent and so beautiful that we remember their words centuries after they were first spoken. Here is an enjoyable collection of the greatest speeches that have been delivered throughout history, prefaced by brief historical and biographical introductions. The book includes some of the greatest, most celebrated speeches, such as Pericles' funeral oration in Athens in the fifth century BC, as well as lesser known speeches, such as Lieutenant- Colonel Tim Collins' eve-of-battle address to his soldiers in Iraq in 2003 - all of which deserve to be celebrated and credited by modern audiences.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, 21st Century

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 27, 2011

About the author

Ferdie Addis has loved classics since he first got his hands on a picture book version of the Odyssey aged four. After a degree in Greek and Latin at Oxford University, and a brief stint as a researcher for TV documentaries, he's extremely happy to be back where he started, reading and writing about the myths and legends of the ancient world.

- http://www.bookish.com/authors/ferdie...

Reviews

[Adelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

É impressionante a atualidade dos discursos presentes neste livro. Que momentos extraordinários e que poder tem a palavra oral ou escrita. Para prever o futuro é preciso conhecer a História. Leitura obrigatória.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pen is mightier than the sword



This is one of the best books I have ever bought and probably some of the best money I have ever spent.

I'm a huge believer in the power of language and the effect it can have on people and all of these speeches are wonderful examples of that. Also probably helps to be a bit of a history fan with something like this but there is helpful context information on each speech.

A wonderful reference which I would argue should be kept by everyone. It's lovely to dip in and relive one of your favourite speeches sometimes too.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a re-read of a book I first read when it was originally published in 2011. Reflecting on the last couple of days, I am not quite sure what motivated me to re-read this. I think I came across it on my Kindle and thought I remembered that I enjoyed reading it. Or something like that.

Only I am not quite sure why I have good memories of it as it is, in truth, a little bit boring.

It shouldn't be boring, given its subject matter. Words spoken across the ages by people who used them to influence history. It should be dynamic.

The book is a series of short chapters, each with the same format. Each starts with a bit of context by means of introduction and this is followed with the speech concerned (often it is excerpts rather than the whole speech) and the chapter ends with the consequences of the speech. There are several short passages between chapters that highlight speeches (or sometimes lack of speeches) that are related to the one just considered.

I think the trouble is that it is all rather hurried. Most speeches are over and done in about 5 pages. That's context, content and consequences all in 5 pages. Did you notice my use of alliteration like all the best speakers?

It is also, for this reader, noticeable that the most emotional and powerful parts of the book are when words are NOT spoken. Willy Brandt travelled to Poland for a memorial service for the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto:

...when the ceremony came, Brandt found that words failed him. Instead, in perfect silence, he fell to his knees and bowed his head. His act of penitence opened the painful way to reconciliation.

and

George Bush celebrated the official end of combat operations in Iraq with a victory speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, one of the great aircraft carriers that had been deployed to the Gulf. And yet, despite the occasion, few long remembered what he said. There was no ‘axis of evil’ soundbite to resound through the free world. What they did remember, with cruel frequency, as US casualties mounted over the succeeding years, was the banner that fluttered jauntily behind him: a Stars and Stripes, bearing the words ‘Mission Accomplished’.

And, for this reader, at least, it remains the case that the outstanding speeches (of those selected here) are those related to racial equality with the speech that gives this book its title being the prime example.

[Chafic (Rello) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of the most notable speeches of the 21st century.
This was an impulse buy for me when I was browsing the bookstore, but it has served as a great reference to look back to every now and then.

I loved how there was a brief context which addresses the situation in which the speech was given, which provides a better understanding of the impact these speeches gave.

Only concerns I had was that it was a short book and some of the speeches were excerpts instead of the whole script. I understand why this was done from a publisher's perspective, but it takes away from the overall delivery of the book.

[Liri Osmanaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halfway throughout the book, I thought I'd give it a 2/5 star rating. However, the last third of the book was really amazing.

To sum it up, it included some of the most powerful speeches in history - which I personally did not have the chance to read - especially in a neat collection like this. Also, it did a very good job explaining the circumstances around of the time the speech happened. Although after each speech, it has a 'Consequences' section, which I liked; in most cases (90%) I was not convinced that something happened as a result of the speech itself. It was more of the opposite, the speech happened because of the circumstances. And lastly, it was a very good review of history lessons. Haha

Because of the first part of the book which was less satisfying, I'll have to give it a 3.5 rating.

[Wsclai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to be kept at everyone's bookshelf as a reference. I like that each chapter begins with the historical background of and finishes with the consequences brought by the speech. It provides readers who are not so well-versed in history contexts to see how far-reaching the effects the speeches had on the history of all mankind.
So far the speeches that impress me the most are "I have a dream" by Martin Luther King Jr and "The Lady's not for turning" by Margaret Thatcher.

[Aline Batista dos S. Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indicação Semanal = “discursos que mudaram a história"
🖋 PUBLICAÇÃO DE = Ferdie Addis
📃 PÁGINAS = 239
Avaliação: 5.0 ⭐

Mais do que um compilado de discursos nacionais e referenciais no Sistema Internacional longevos ou hodiernos, essa mesma produção discorre sobre o poderio da comunicação expressada para o alcance de demandas individualizadas ou comuns à uma parcela da população, com especificidades às épocas encenadas com as complexidades envolvidas. A expressões das palavras é elencada, como boas ou ruins, dependendo do vislumbre de alguma moral exercida, abrangendo afirmações que modificaram o globo com voracidade.

#literaturainternacional #literaturanacional #resenhaliterária #análiseliterária #biblioteca #livraria #história #leitura #livros #books #livroseleituras #indicaçãodeautores #bookstan #perfilliterário #booklovers #leitores #nerd #geek #orgulhonerd #culturanerd #geekpride #geekculture #discursosquemudaramahistória #FerdieAddis #Prumo

[Riski Oktavian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Membaca buku ini lumayan cepat ditambah mood untuk bacaku mulai kembali lagi dan isi buku ini memang cukup meaningful buat aku. Buku ini adalah buku nonfiksi yang berisi mengenai pidato-pidato dari beberapa orang yang terkenal di era dulu sebut saja seperti John F. Kennedy, Hitler, dan yang lainnya.

Penulis di sini percaya bahwa hal yang paling memengaruhi kehidupan kita itu adalah bagaimana cara kita berbicara, berkomunikasi, atau menyampaikan sesuatu. Seperti kata pepatah ya yaitu mulutmu harimaumu, di buku ini memang terasa bagaimana pidato-pidato atau orasi yang disampaikan oleh segelintir tokoh memang sangat emosional terhadap pendengar dan pembacanya. Ada yang bernuansa sedih, semangat, hingga propaganda.

Penulis juga sedikit melampirkan biografi singkat dari masing-masing tokoh yang disebutkan dan di momen apa pidato tersebut disampaikan.

Cukup ringan dan bahasa Inggrisnya nggak yang sulit untuk dipahami!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impulse buy, this was an excellent read and a touchstone of historical reference. From Jesus of Nazareth to Barack Obama via Cromwell, Napoleon, Lincoln, Churchill, and many more, each speech is given a brief introduction and is followed by its historical consequences.

Of course, they are best read out loud - even in your head, if that makes sense. In this world of bland, predictable sound-bites, these speeches make plain the sheer power of well-crafted words especially when delivered by a gifted orator. This is why the speeches of Robespierre, Hitler, Stalin and Bin Laden, which are included, are so chilling and the speeches of the others so inspiring and moving.

Worth every penny and highly recommended.

[Allia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite interesting to read this collection of notable speeches, most of which were presented before my time. I can see how this collection would be useful as a reference and to feed into the power of hindsight to reflect on what impact the speech did/didn’t have to the speaker and the listeners.

I appreciate the layout the author has presented the speeches, offering light context to the speech as an introduction, followed by THE SPEECH, and then THE CONSEQUENCES.

My low rating was due to the fact that there wasn’t a great deal of depth within the introductions or the consequences. Also, I couldn’t help thinking that this collection of “speeches that changed history” is limited to the English speaking world. I’m sure there are an abundance of other speeches out there that could be translated into English and should be included to make this a more rounded collection that have changed history around the full globe, not just part of it.

A quote from the author’s text that stood out to me; “And although words can't fight battles, or power factories, they certainly can drive people. There are times when people are in the grip of intense but inarticulate feelings. At those times, the right speech can transform an incoherent surge of emotion into a burst of positive, directed activity.”

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book and the style of writing with a brief context covering situation before and after the speech. I also admired the candidness in sharing situations where the speech worked and where it didn’t.
My all time favorite lines were:
‘It’s not the end. It’s not even beginning of the end. It is however the end of the beginning’ by Winston Churchill.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s great that anyone can publish a book these days; but it feels a bit of a con job when someone has largely just pulled a list of speeches of the internet (as disclosed in his sources) and then has written inaccurate and misleading views on the historical consequences of those speeches. Nicely bound and somehow has good placement in large bookstores.

[Sharonb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Shows the power and emotion of words and how they can shape people's actions. Interesting that all the speeches were set in the context in which they were made and therefore gave the reader a better idea of their impact.

[Joyce Meijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of great speeches. Also describes the events surrounding the speeches, which makes them come alive.

[Pedro Trujillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential book at these times.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great overview of some of your "must know" speeches, there are a few edits here and there but if you just want an overview (As oppose to the full speeches) then this book is for you!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scrapes a three as there’s nothing wrong with what’s there but it’s too brief on each speech and the selection of speeches seemed a bit strange.

[Jenny Cooke (Bookish Shenanigans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[soul_writer]

Came across some speeches I haven't before and I liked the book. What I didnt like was that some of the speeches felt short and hurried.

[Helena Eher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Baixei a amostra grátis desse livro, porque estou num momento de querer saber um pouco mais sobre história (nunca fui muito ligada a isso, pra ser sincera).

Comecei a dar uma procurada e encontrei esse livro que achei que seria bem legal.

Ele traz diversos discursos feitos por pessoas importantes ao longo da história. Ia listar todos aqui, mas são 41 discursos :!:

Alguns deles são:

O Sermão da Montanha (Jesus de Nazaré)
O Adeus à Velha Guarda (Napoleão Bonaparte)
O Pronunciamento em Gettysburg (Abraham Lincoln)
Não há Salvação para Índia (Mahatma Gandhi)
O Primeiro Soldado do Reich Alemão (Adolf Hitler)
Três Discursos em Tempo de Guerra (Winston Churchill)
Carta Testamento (Getúlio Vargas)
Discurso de Posse (John F. Kennedy)
Eu tenho um sonho (Martin Luther King Jr.)
A Dama não dá Voltas (Margaret Thatcher)
Que Reine a Liberdade (Nelson Mandela)
Declaração de Guerra aos Estados Unidos (Osama Bin Laden)
Discurso da Vitória (Barack Obama)
O livro segue a ordem cronológica dos fatos. Cada capítulo começa com uma explicação sobre o momento histórico e o papel da pessoa que fará o discurso nesse momento. Depois, ele apresenta um trecho do discurso e, por fim, as consequências que esse discurso trouxe. Achei essa construção muito boa para contextualizar o leitor.

Apesar de ter tudo para dar certo, o livro ficou meio superficial. Quando começava a me envolver ou entender um pouco melhor determinado fato, o capítulo já acabava. Acredito que isso tenha a ver com a vontade do autor de falar sobre tantos discursos.

Imaginei que os textos estariam na íntegra. Mas não estavam. Pensando bem, acredito que alguns sejam muito longos e faça sentido colocar só os principais trechos, mas achei os trechos curtos demais. Não sei se deu azar de os primeiros serem os mais recortados, mas dentre os que li gostaria de poder mergulhar um pouco mais no discurso feito.

[Septia K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berisi 35 pidato masyhur di dunia; mulai dari Aung San Suu Kyi (yang sering koar-koar soal Rohingya pasti/musti kenal dia dong ya), Nelson Mandela, sampai Osama bin Laden. Sayangnya, buku ini kurang tebel sehingga informasi yang disampaikan di buku ini kurang bisa memuaskan saya, heheh. Isinya yaa transkrip pidato tiap tokoh plus beberapa informasi pendukung seperti latar belakang dan bagaimana pidato itu mempengaruhi dunia. Kesan? Mmm...biasa aja, heheh. Oiya, buku ini full inggrisan, nemu di bazaar BBW books seharga enam puluh ribu.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is an interesting book. Each speech is preceded by background information and followed by consequence and other relevant facts. I would have liked more of the actual speech content rather than the edited excerpts but i suppose i can go and look them up

[Crystal Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much history. It really shows the importance of good communication skills and the power of words. Speeches worth reading and learning about. A good read.

[Patrick Neylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a reasonable reference book of great speeches, but the analysis is shallow and even sophomoric, and the historical context given is dodgy with numerous errors.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible collection of historical and meaningful speeches from throughout history. Definitely an excellent learning tool for young and old

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, Educational & Inspiring! A Powerful Read! I Loved It!