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Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech That Will Be Remembered for Years in Under 30 Seconds
Magic of Impromptu Speaking is a comprehensive, step-by-step system for creating highly effective speeches in under 30 seconds. It is based on research of the most powerful techniques used by winners of impromptu speaking contests, politicians, actors and successful presenters. The book is entertaining to read, has plenty of examples and covers the most effective tools not only from the world of impromptu speaking but also from acting, stand-up comedy, applied psychology and creative thinking. Once you master the system, you will grow immensely as an impromptu public speaker, become a better storyteller in a circle of friends and be more creative in everyday life. Your audience members will think that what you do on stage after such short preparation is pure magic and will recall some of your speeches many years later.
110 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2013
430 people are currently reading
1049 people want to read
About the author
Andrii Sedniev
14 books93 followers At the age of 19, Andrii obtained his CCIE (Certified Cisco Internetwork Expert) certification, the most respected certification in the IT world, and became the youngest person in Europe to hold it. At the age of 23, he joined an MBA program at one of the top 10 MBA schools in the USA as the youngest student in the program, and at the age of 25 he joined Cisco Systems' Head Office as a Product Manager responsible for managing a router which brought in $1 billion in revenue every year.
These and other experiences have taught Andrii that success in any endeavor doesn't as much depend on the amount of experience you have but rather on the processes that you are using. Having dedicated over 10 years to researching behavior of world's most successful people and testing a variety of different techniques, Andrii has uncovered principles that will help you to unleash your potential and fulfill your dreams in a very short period of time.
These and other experiences have taught Andrii that success in any endeavor doesn't as much depend on the amount of experience you have but rather on the processes that you are using. Having dedicated over 10 years to researching behavior of world's most successful people and testing a variety of different techniques, Andrii has uncovered principles that will help you to unleash your potential and fulfill your dreams in a very short period of time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 6, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech That Will Be Remembered for Years in Under 30 Seconds.
Step-by-step guide for impromptu speaking I read while preparing for Alessandra Torre’s and my author panel presentation, “Goodreads Marketing 101” at RT Atlanta 2017.
We also conducted an Avid Readers Poll which generated 2,024 responses that was integrated into presentation. If you were unable to attend RT, please sign-up to receive our newsletter: Author Ad-Wise – Avid Readers Poll results & more!
The panel focused on tips for authors to maintain a current Goodreads profile, book collection and how to best interact with readers. The purpose was to EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GOODREADS!
Author Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/SueBeeNewsletter
RT Panel: https://rtconvention.com/event/goodre...
RT Booklover's Convention 2017: https://rtconvention.com/
Hashtags: #ShhEvent #RT17 #Giveaway
A huge THANKS to AnL: CC, war & Mer for all your hard work on poll and helping me prep… and to SmT: Liz & Myla for maintaining TopPick weekly chat on Shh… as well as @Shh_group and to all shhluts for making it a great place to read and chat. Go shhluts!
***
Instructions: ★★★★
Comprehensibility: ★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 27, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. If your speech doesn’t have structure, your listeners may get lost.
2. Basic structure is always fixed.
3. People remember points of wisdom only when they are associated with stories that happened to them or that they have heard.
4. Tell a story and associate it with a point.
- PEEP: Point. Explanation. Example. Point.
- Position – Action – Benefit
5. Details are the most important part of any story.
6. People will forgive anything on stage except insincerity.
- If you are truly genuine, your speech will be perceived well even if you mess up everything else.
- Passion and energy are contagious.
7. First idea that pops up in your head.
- At a minimum, you only need a starting point. Introduce a conflict early in a story.
- Escalate it and once your audience is eager to know how it gets resolved, show the climax and give a resolution.
- Add several turns.
8. VALUE is your unique life experience, good laughter, or an unusual point of view.
- When you take a stand that is different from the rest, people notice.
9. Don’t apologize: You waste your audience’s valuable time and it is quite rude.
10.
Level 1: Speak for 2 minutes.
Level 2: structure & sense.
Level 3: Delivery. Power passion and charisma.
Level 4: Mastery. Remembered years later.
Tips: Go to new places, try new experiences, meet new people, read books.
1. If your speech doesn’t have structure, your listeners may get lost.
2. Basic structure is always fixed.
3. People remember points of wisdom only when they are associated with stories that happened to them or that they have heard.
4. Tell a story and associate it with a point.
- PEEP: Point. Explanation. Example. Point.
- Position – Action – Benefit
5. Details are the most important part of any story.
6. People will forgive anything on stage except insincerity.
- If you are truly genuine, your speech will be perceived well even if you mess up everything else.
- Passion and energy are contagious.
7. First idea that pops up in your head.
- At a minimum, you only need a starting point. Introduce a conflict early in a story.
- Escalate it and once your audience is eager to know how it gets resolved, show the climax and give a resolution.
- Add several turns.
8. VALUE is your unique life experience, good laughter, or an unusual point of view.
- When you take a stand that is different from the rest, people notice.
9. Don’t apologize: You waste your audience’s valuable time and it is quite rude.
10.
Level 1: Speak for 2 minutes.
Level 2: structure & sense.
Level 3: Delivery. Power passion and charisma.
Level 4: Mastery. Remembered years later.
Tips: Go to new places, try new experiences, meet new people, read books.
March 14, 2013
This book is a live changer. it will help you speak to thousands of people or have a simple conversation with one person. You w will learn to present your ideas in an effective and understandable way. You will become more effective in both personnel and professional settings. You will come away from this book coherent and more confident. This author with his way way of writing is one to watch. contact me at danieldabear@gmail.com
May 8, 2013
bookbub.com was giving this book away. I read it before a upcoming speaking engagement and it was just the pep talk I needed. Really informative read and helpful ways of thinking about speaking. Definitely recommend even at full price!
March 31, 2013
A great read with clear principles and lots of examples and practice ideas. A worth while book to help you improve your speaking skills.
February 27, 2026
Anybody doing anything important is often called upon to explain himself. Here's how.
Andrii Sedniev is a force to be reckoned with. At the tender age of 24 he has mastered dance, karate, mathematics, CISCO technology, and public speaking. I am sure that other talents to be disclosed casually, like "by the way, on my way to winning the America's cup" or something equally offhand.
We in Toastmasters are randomly called upon every week to deliver impromptu speeches, called "Table Topics." The classic notion, dating back to the Greeks, is that a public person should be ready to hold forth on almost any topic at a moment's notice. More specifically, an executive should be able to articulate and defend his positions, a salesman promote his product, and a politician argue his policies for any audience, anywhere.
Though Sedniev does not frequently reference his prior work, "The Magic of Public Speaking," there is an obvious continuity in the themes. Just like a martial artist, the speaker has to be up for the game - enthusiastic. He has to be prepared. He has to have a repertoire of stories which he can tell on a moment's notice, and the ability to segue smoothly from the question being asked to the answer he is prepared to give.
There is quite a bit of advice which is specific to short speeches, what would amount to the answers one might provide an interviewer. Open strongly, if possible taking the conversation in an unanticipated direction. This provides interest and gives you control. Make one solid point, which is all one can hope for in two or three minutes. Make a short, punchy conclusion, if possible wrapping back to the introduction.
This review hits only the highlights; the book takes an hour or two to read, and presents its points in a memorable fashion. While Toastmasters will immediately recognize its utility, I would recommend it to anybody who is called upon frequently to speak in public.
NB: Sedniev talks about mastering mathematics as one of his early-life challenges. He says that he spent a few months figuring out the sum of the infinite series of inverse squares: 1/1^2+1 /2^2+1/3^2..... I can believe that he did. This is a classic problem in mathematics , called the Basel problem, posed in 1644 and solved by the famous Euler almost a century later. It requires a considerable knowledge of number theory. The answer, BTW, is pi^2/6.
Andrii Sedniev is a force to be reckoned with. At the tender age of 24 he has mastered dance, karate, mathematics, CISCO technology, and public speaking. I am sure that other talents to be disclosed casually, like "by the way, on my way to winning the America's cup" or something equally offhand.
We in Toastmasters are randomly called upon every week to deliver impromptu speeches, called "Table Topics." The classic notion, dating back to the Greeks, is that a public person should be ready to hold forth on almost any topic at a moment's notice. More specifically, an executive should be able to articulate and defend his positions, a salesman promote his product, and a politician argue his policies for any audience, anywhere.
Though Sedniev does not frequently reference his prior work, "The Magic of Public Speaking," there is an obvious continuity in the themes. Just like a martial artist, the speaker has to be up for the game - enthusiastic. He has to be prepared. He has to have a repertoire of stories which he can tell on a moment's notice, and the ability to segue smoothly from the question being asked to the answer he is prepared to give.
There is quite a bit of advice which is specific to short speeches, what would amount to the answers one might provide an interviewer. Open strongly, if possible taking the conversation in an unanticipated direction. This provides interest and gives you control. Make one solid point, which is all one can hope for in two or three minutes. Make a short, punchy conclusion, if possible wrapping back to the introduction.
This review hits only the highlights; the book takes an hour or two to read, and presents its points in a memorable fashion. While Toastmasters will immediately recognize its utility, I would recommend it to anybody who is called upon frequently to speak in public.
NB: Sedniev talks about mastering mathematics as one of his early-life challenges. He says that he spent a few months figuring out the sum of the infinite series of inverse squares: 1/1^2+1 /2^2+1/3^2..... I can believe that he did. This is a classic problem in mathematics , called the Basel problem, posed in 1644 and solved by the famous Euler almost a century later. It requires a considerable knowledge of number theory. The answer, BTW, is pi^2/6.
March 8, 2018
This impromptu speaking guide is a short and easy read. I think this book is better suited for someone who has never spoken in front of a crowd. As a long-time college instructor, I found much of the advice in this book to be common sense or obvious. However, there were a few gems in this book that made the book worth-while for me. My favorite tip is, "When you speak in front of the audience, it's not a private conversation anymore and your goal is not to say what you really think but to give value." This is great advice and something I never considered before. Another good tip is to avoid giving obvious or predictable answers to impromptu questions. Instead, give your speech a slant or unexpected twist. I didn't find the exercises that useful for me b/c I already have plenty of experience answering questions on my feet in the classes that I teach. For a newbie speaker, I can see how the exercises might have some value. I found one typo on the bottom of page 7 (difficult), otherwise the book is well written and professionally edited.
October 25, 2019
Interesting and informative guide on impromptu speaking
This has been a good read with lots of useful and relevant tips. It’s a helpful book for anyone that is nervous about public speaking or giving any kind of presentation. I particularly liked the explanations on how to create a relevant story for on the spot thinking when answering questions.
There is 100 practise questions which I found an interesting exercise as this allows you to start creating the stories and jokes the book talks about. I agree that humour is important and I liked that this book went into explaining how good humour can be for impromptu speaking. A good, useful read that would help any beginner in this field
This has been a good read with lots of useful and relevant tips. It’s a helpful book for anyone that is nervous about public speaking or giving any kind of presentation. I particularly liked the explanations on how to create a relevant story for on the spot thinking when answering questions.
There is 100 practise questions which I found an interesting exercise as this allows you to start creating the stories and jokes the book talks about. I agree that humour is important and I liked that this book went into explaining how good humour can be for impromptu speaking. A good, useful read that would help any beginner in this field
May 23, 2017
Not what I would call great and not a book that I would recommend to someone who already has a decent or even mediocre capacity for public speaking. This is a book geared more towards a sophomore high school level introduction to it. I suppose that it that is what you're looking for then there is some value in it, but otherwise, not so much.
That said, he does touch on some things that you learn in higher level public speaking classes and things such as bridging statements but he called them something else. All in all, a short and easy read but not one that will be remembered as a game changing book.
That said, he does touch on some things that you learn in higher level public speaking classes and things such as bridging statements but he called them something else. All in all, a short and easy read but not one that will be remembered as a game changing book.
February 4, 2017
How can you captivate an audience in 30 seconds and win awards...given any topic? This book has answers. Yes! Shortcuts!! I bought this book after I joined the Toastmasters International to make an impression in the table topics where you are given less than 10 seconds to start talking on a subject given to you after you are behind the podium. I won the Best Table Topic talk (2 minute impromptu talk) in the same week I started reading this book. Not many books have quick answers, but this one has. And they work!!
August 26, 2018
A book of recipes for deliberate practice in impromptu speaking/mini-presentations (type 1). While this book is not a replacement for toastmaster workshops or professional coaching... It is close to one.
The only problem I have with this book is the glaring contradiction of "Answer a question as you understand it" vs "Make it a priority to understand a question". Besides that, it is full of practical tips (some lesser known ones include "Position-Action-Benefit" framework) and exercises (linguistic pyramid) which I will definitely review again.
The only problem I have with this book is the glaring contradiction of "Answer a question as you understand it" vs "Make it a priority to understand a question". Besides that, it is full of practical tips (some lesser known ones include "Position-Action-Benefit" framework) and exercises (linguistic pyramid) which I will definitely review again.
July 26, 2022
Devo dire la verità: l'ho preso con basse aspettative, più per dare una ripassata che per sperare di imparare cose nuove... sono solo un centinaio di pagine ed è compreso con Kindle Unlimited...
Beh Ma mi ha sorpreso: scritto bene, con esercizi e consigli pratici per l'improvvisazione che, spoiler alert, non esiste :-P
Ho letto molte cose più costose e molto più inutili... Non il libro finale sull'argomento, ma di sicuro meglio di molti altri titoli molto più famosi.
Leggerò altri libri di Andrii Sedniev..
Beh Ma mi ha sorpreso: scritto bene, con esercizi e consigli pratici per l'improvvisazione che, spoiler alert, non esiste :-P
Ho letto molte cose più costose e molto più inutili... Non il libro finale sull'argomento, ma di sicuro meglio di molti altri titoli molto più famosi.
Leggerò altri libri di Andrii Sedniev..
June 24, 2017
A short read but filled with useful information as a starting point. The author discusses the state of mind and psychological hurdles to overcome when speaking on the fly, storytelling techniques, transitioning techniques, and other tips. I appreciated the exercises at the end of some of the chapters and the list of topics to practice with at the end of the book.
February 23, 2018
Genius
Simply genius. I just can't describe his genius in words. To appreciate his insights, you must be in public speaking setting for a few years. I reread this book after 3 years and I am member in 5 toastmasters club now. I can't wait to read his new books if he ever decides to write more. Thanks Andrii for adding value to my life
Simply genius. I just can't describe his genius in words. To appreciate his insights, you must be in public speaking setting for a few years. I reread this book after 3 years and I am member in 5 toastmasters club now. I can't wait to read his new books if he ever decides to write more. Thanks Andrii for adding value to my life
April 18, 2021
A short yet interesting technique for enhancing the speed of one's thought and speach process. The teaching style is a bit open and free with a fast forward mindset. Thought stimulation exercise is he goal here and for some this may be a good method to practice when impromptu speaking is in order.
July 25, 2018
Very short book with some good advice (but nothing groundbreaking and everything is found in other sources) and a lot of poor advice. To be more precise, this book has 4 good ideas, so 1 star for 2 ideas is quite a good deal, I think.
September 30, 2018
Great Read
I love how the author gives speaking examples for impromptu speaking. He provides real life tips even for brand new speakers to improve their speaking results. I highly recommend!!
I love how the author gives speaking examples for impromptu speaking. He provides real life tips even for brand new speakers to improve their speaking results. I highly recommend!!
April 14, 2019
Great Book
Amazing book. Gives good and easy to use tips on how to become a good impromptu speaker. Read it and sincerely practice , practice and practice until you become a great speaker who can speak on any topic at anytime before anyone.
Amazing book. Gives good and easy to use tips on how to become a good impromptu speaker. Read it and sincerely practice , practice and practice until you become a great speaker who can speak on any topic at anytime before anyone.
July 14, 2019
Very helpful
The book provides and easy to follow framework for impromptu speaking. It is well structured and also easy to read. There are some parts that you feel The author is repeating the same thing over and over again by just using different words however in general it’s a good resource if you would like to learn and get good at impromptu speaking.
The book provides and easy to follow framework for impromptu speaking. It is well structured and also easy to read. There are some parts that you feel The author is repeating the same thing over and over again by just using different words however in general it’s a good resource if you would like to learn and get good at impromptu speaking.
May 25, 2020
Another great toolkit from Android
Love the writing, the storytelling, the tools and tips that he explains very thoroughly. Recommended for a new skill and to develop that sparkle of public speaking
Love the writing, the storytelling, the tools and tips that he explains very thoroughly. Recommended for a new skill and to develop that sparkle of public speaking
May 19, 2020
Ok read
Generally ok to read. Could have done with more practical examples, to emphasis the points the writer was trying to get across.
Generally ok to read. Could have done with more practical examples, to emphasis the points the writer was trying to get across.
December 20, 2016
Cần phải sống một cuộc sống thú vị để trở thành một diễn giả ứng khẩu thú vị.
March 20, 2017
"Đọc là một chuyện. Hiểu là một chuyện khác. Và ứng dụng đúng lại là một chuyện hoàn toàn khác nữa."
Chẳng cần tìm đâu xa, chẳng cần nghe ai giảng giải về "nghệ thuật thuyết trình" hay gì cả, tất cả đã ở trong đây rồi. Số tiền bỏ ra để sở hữu cuốn sách này là quá ít so với giá trị thật sự mà nó mang lại cho bất kỳ ai hiểu và ứng dụng được nó.
Chẳng cần tìm đâu xa, chẳng cần nghe ai giảng giải về "nghệ thuật thuyết trình" hay gì cả, tất cả đã ở trong đây rồi. Số tiền bỏ ra để sở hữu cuốn sách này là quá ít so với giá trị thật sự mà nó mang lại cho bất kỳ ai hiểu và ứng dụng được nó.
June 28, 2020
Có những quyển sách mất 1 tuần để đọc, nhưng chỉ mất 1-2 ngày suy ngẫm cho nội dung chính và thực hành vào cuộc sống. Còn đây lại là quyển sách bạn có thể đọc trong 2 ngày, hay ai đó tập trung và lĩnh hội tốt thì chỉ cần 1 ngày là đọc xong, nhưng nội dung của quyển sách thì cần hàng tuần hay cả mấy tháng để thực hành và học hỏi được. Giống như băng nổi, 10% là cái mình thấy/đọc, 90% ẩn bên dưới là quá trình thực hành, rèn luyện bản thân. Để trở thành nhân tố có thể ứng biến trong mọi tình huống, trước mọi câu hỏi. Và trong quyển sách này sẽ đưa cho bạn công cụ, phương pháp, và các bài tập mẫu,để khi đứng trước một câu hỏi mà bạn không biết phải trả lời như thế nào nhưng chỉ có 30s để gây ấn tượng với tất cả người nghe thì bạn nên làm gì? Hãy suy nghĩ? À mà đừng nghĩ nữa, cầm ngay quyển sách đọc và thự hành, đọc cẩn thận vào và thực hành châm chỉ nhé.
January 17, 2014
Довольно лаконичная и емкая книга про импровизационные выступления. Читается буквально за вечер.
Автор дает дельные советы как по тренировке навыков, так и по психологическим приемам, которые будут полезны оратору. Например, людям, склонным к перфекционизму дается рекомендация не ждать, что выступление всегда пройдет идеально. Следование этому совету освобождает от лишнего беспокойства и позволяет глубже погрузиться в суть вопроса.
Книга прежде всего практическая, и в каждой главе приводятся упражнения для закрепления материала. Также, в конце книги есть список тем, на которых можно тренировать полученные навыки.
Лично мне материал оказался очень полезен в подготовке к сдаче устной части IELTS.
Автор дает дельные советы как по тренировке навыков, так и по психологическим приемам, которые будут полезны оратору. Например, людям, склонным к перфекционизму дается рекомендация не ждать, что выступление всегда пройдет идеально. Следование этому совету освобождает от лишнего беспокойства и позволяет глубже погрузиться в суть вопроса.
Книга прежде всего практическая, и в каждой главе приводятся упражнения для закрепления материала. Также, в конце книги есть список тем, на которых можно тренировать полученные навыки.
Лично мне материал оказался очень полезен в подготовке к сдаче устной части IELTS.
Read
August 11, 2022I read this in-flight on the way to a Toastmasters conference where I would compete in the table topics (impromptu speaking) contest. It provided a good boost to my knowledge and confidence. I recommend this to someone who is interested in learning some tools for impromptu speaking, and who will do the exercises Andrii recommends. They will help you get to a higher level with your speaking - both impromptu and planned. Bonus for Toastmasters - a great list of 100 practice questions. That could be really useful next time you're Table Topics Master at your club meeting!
P.S. Contest results: I came in second in a field of six very competitive speakers in a district covering western Washington and all of Alaska.
P.S. Contest results: I came in second in a field of six very competitive speakers in a district covering western Washington and all of Alaska.
September 8, 2013
This is a guidebook for those wishing to speak successfully with a minimum of subject preparation. It outlines suggestions, tips, and exercises to hone your skills in extemporaneous speaking and question answering while on stage.
The book is well organized and user friendly. The lessons follow a rational order and explanations are clear.
My only concerns are that portions of the material are repetitive, and the author dwells a bit too much on his own experiences irregardless of the relavency. One troubling contradictions is the recommendation a speaker be truthful and genuine, yet use fabricated anecdotes to illustrate points. I rate the book a 3 1/2.
The book is well organized and user friendly. The lessons follow a rational order and explanations are clear.
My only concerns are that portions of the material are repetitive, and the author dwells a bit too much on his own experiences irregardless of the relavency. One troubling contradictions is the recommendation a speaker be truthful and genuine, yet use fabricated anecdotes to illustrate points. I rate the book a 3 1/2.
February 7, 2014
This was a free Kindle book that I had cast aside last year because the book was pretty rote and uninteresting at the time. I got asked to do standup comedy recently and started reading this again. I will say there are sentences and pieces of advice in this book I enjoyed and consider helpful. However, there seems to be a bit of impromptu writing with unsourced claims and empty promises. I do think Mr. Sedniev's personality is charming and his stories are quirk and funny. This book just seems a little slapdash.
August 12, 2016
The book has straightforward advice, ample exercises, and easy-to-follow guidelines to improve your impromptu speaking. The book is short and in plain language. You would find it is useful especially if you are finding impromptu speaking difficult. On the other hand, I find some examples repetitive, content lacking depth for skilled speakers. Nonetheless, it is an okay read.
June 21, 2013
Definitely takes the fear out of making speeches off the cuff. The author assures us that we won't always have a great answer, but if we make a game out of it and look at a question from different angles, we'll grow more confident in our impromptu speaking abilities.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews