A complete Advanced Presentation Skills workshop in a book! What makes a great presentation? Why do some people seem so natural in front of an audience while others are so boring? And can anyone learn to be confident in public speaking?
If anyone knows the answer, it’s Mark Robinson. He used to be terrified of public speaking but now speaks regularly in front of all sizes of groups, from small rooms to large conference halls. And he’s given hundreds of Advanced Presentation Skills workshops which score an average of 95% from participants!
Presenting Made Easy takes you through that workshop, giving you proven tools to transform your next talk - whether you’re pitching to executives, presenting to your colleagues or delivering a keynote. And each chapter has practical exercises you can do at home to implement what you’ve learnt. All this at a fraction of the cost of attending a workshop!
In this second, fully updated edition, you’ll
The three essential elements of all great speechesA persuasive structure for any presentationEasy techniques to overcome nerves and build confidence—even if you’re shyThe art of storytelling to bring your message to lifePowerPoint mastery and alternatives for visual impactLessons from Obama on body language and intonation and from Trump on persuasionStrategies for creating unforgettable “STAR moments“How to influence seniormanagementTechniques to keep your online audience’s attentionHow to prepare your presentation and even how to get applauseAnd so much more! Why trust this book? Mark writes like he speaks – in an easy to follow, fun and above all practical way. Every chapter gives you immediately actionable steps to enable you to give a powerful presentation. And it’s all told with a dose of British humour.
Woven throughout is Mark’s personal how he went from a shy software engineer to a TEDx speaker (How to present to keep your audience’s attention) to a sought after trainer, coach and public speaker. Mark’s message is, “If I can learn to give a persuasive presentation, anyone can!”
But don’t take our word for it. Check out the reviews here, on Goodreads and for the first “Speak Inspire How To Give Persuasive Presentations To Boost Your Confidence And Career” (an Amazon bestseller in The Netherlands).
Order your copy today and start giving clear, confident and convincing presentations!
Who is this book for? It’s ideal for (technical) professionals, leaders, conference speakers – and anyone who wants to communicate with greater clarity and confidence.
Who is the author? Mark Robinson is a professional presentation skills trainer and coach having individually trained over 2000 people, including senior leaders and TEDx speakers. His communication workshops score an average of 95% from his participants.
Mark Robinson has been giving presentations for over 20 years as part of his work as a software consultant. Though he is not a natural presenter by his own admission, he has learnt how to present well from excellent presenters such as Remco Claassen and his own wife, Annelies.
In 2016 he shared some of his best presentation skills tips to a packed auditorium at ASML. A few months later, and after a successful pitch, he fulfilled an ambition to speak at a TEDx event, speaking on the topic, “How to present to keep your audience’s attention”.
Later that year he started sharing his presentation skills tips with his TMC colleagues.
Now he has given presentation skills training to over 500 people. Most of his participants are English speaking, technical people in the Eindhoven region. But he has trained:
- at many different companies and some non-profits (including local councils), - at various levels (including senior management), - in various locations throughout The Netherlands and beyond (Belgium and France) - and sometimes even in Dutch! 😉
What make this course different? It is practical, every participant presents at least six times, but it is also focused on building up their confidence by only allowing positive feedback.
Mark is also a TEDx speaker coach for TEDxEindhoven.
By reading Mark’s workshop-in-a-book (and of course practice!!!) you will learn how to deliver a better, more persuasive and more inspiring presentation. The book alternates between Mark’s journey as a speaker, which motivates you presenting can be learned and lessons you can directly apply to your own presentations. Mark’s book grabs your attention from the first page. Once you will start reading, you will keep reading! Which techniques are used in the book to achieve this? How can you apply the same techniques to your presentation? Well, you will have to read the book yourself to find out.
How do I know these presentation techniques really work? A couple of years ago, we attended a presentation workshop led by Mark with a group. We all had to give several presentations during the day. The difference between the initial presentations at the start of the day and those at the end was truly remarkable. All speakers were able to deliver a much better and more inspiring presentation. The book comes very close to this workshop. Therefore, I can only conclude that Presenting Made Easy lives up to its promise to learn how to present better.
This isn't your average "presentation skills" book. This is an entirely credible, personal story explaining why and how *anyone* can become confident deliver great presentations. I find it especially convincing and memorable due to this "personal touch". I´ve been following Mark developing this since we met during work almost a decade ago and I highly recommend this book (and his training). Life is too short to sit through bad presentations, so do yourself a favor and get everyone around you skilled up with this! The book and the training is filled to the brim with memorable stories, great quotes, practical exercises and very powerful analogies sprinkled in to make things stick (and made me laugh out loud a few times as well)! This is a book written using all the tricks that make a great presentation, which makes it highly readable, very useful and above all, entertaining!
Mark Robinson’s Presenting Made Easy is fun to read and a masterclass that educates on blending Education, Entertainment, and Empowerment in presentations. By the 100th page, Robinson’s engaging storytelling, personal wins and fails in his presentation journey brought out with British humor, and practical tips, paired with visually appealing images keep the reader hooked and curious about what comes next! It simplifies complex ideas, ensuring this book is easily absorbed making it an indispensable guide for anyone looking to elevate their presentation game. This book easily earns a well-deserved 5/5 stars!
By Mary Mueni Joseph – Software Engineer & Author.
So many books are written on presentation skills, is it worth buying this book? Will I learn something new I can apply immediately? Will it help to make my presentations more impactful? I had my doubts...
Mark Robinson's new book is a brilliant mix of theory and practice with a remarkable personal story that makes this book a real page turner. Mark eats his own dog food (as he calls it) and shows how he applies the techniques and formulas in his TEDx talk and the book itself. I used a few of his techniques in this review. If you want to learn which one, I will not tell you.
Buy this book now, read it tomorrow, deliver more impactful presentations that your audience will remember the day after tomorrow! This is great dog food (paperback probably even better than ebook)
Marks book “Presenting made Easy” promises what it stands for! Like in a good presentation you get hooked up and your curiosity is tickled in the right way to make you read on! The little sketches and illustrations in-between make it easy to understand and kept me reading with a smile! I use techniques and experience out of this book every day when giving presentations – no matter if in front of 2 or 200 colleagues! Thanks Mark for enabling me in having impactful presentations which people won’t forget when leaving the room!
After reading this book, I can say with certainty that Mark is living what he is preaching. You will find every tip and trick, every formula and tool he is teaching, applied in the way this book is written. This will give you a firsthand experience on getting hooked. Yes, getting hooked. Because isn’t this what we all want our audience to feel when we are presenting? Read it, make notes, practice and then practice some more. I bet you will thank Mark in your mind every time you hear your audience applaud. Why applaud? That is one of the many tricks I will let you discover in the book ☺
After reading this book, I can say with certainty that Mark is living what he is preaching. You will find every tip and trick, every formula and tool he is teaching, applied in the way this book is written. This will give you a firsthand experience on getting hooked. Yes, getting hooked. Because isn’t this what we all want our audience to feel when we are presenting? Read it, make notes, practice and then practice some more. I bet you will thank Mark in your mind every time you hear your audience applaud. Why applaud? That is one of the many tricks I will let you discover in the book ☺
Having read Marks second book he has really move on and raised the bar on how to present well. This book contains a veritable treasure trove and knowledge and praxis which is valuable to both the advanced presenter or someone who is making their first presentation. A good balanced book to refresh and reset your presentation skill…. nice
This is a must have for everyone wanting to deliver a great presentation. Do you want your audience to listen to you? Do you want to deliver impactful communication and presentations? This book is for you.
Mark did it again and in a more interactive way in this second edition of Presenting Made Easy: How YOU Can Deliver A Persuasive Presentation! What do YOU need to give an overwhelming and confident presentation, even more like a persuasive speech? If you're or you were figuring this out, please consider this book. I'm convinced this book is a good starting point, mainly the feedback loops and exercises, before even considering 'serious' courses, seminar and or education program(s). The book is full of interesting and eye opening examples and each chapter ends with practical exercises. As the book is written in the personal lifeline story of Mark Robinson, it includes his full journey towards being an experienced speaker and presenter himself. Of course this is not applicable to everyone, but at least anyone can benefit from the faults and unattractive presentations other people perform and have performed. One of Mark's important notices is that a presentation CAN and SHOULD be interesting enough to get your full audience' attention. Eye-opener for me personally is that a presentation should not only bring over a message, but ideally setup your audience towards action themselves! A remark for the numerous references made towards points being made in a later chapter is that specific page marks could be added where these will be handled. I'm already looking forward to a next episode in this journey towards becoming a better presenter.
Yet another book on presentation skills... right... oh, wait, what's that? .. hmm, ... hmm!! When's my next presentation? This is actually fun!
This simple and practical book almost reads itself. It's well-structured, written very clearly and contains a thousand interesting stories, anecdotes, cases and situations that might just happen to you and therefore make you want to read this cover to cover. Mark applies his teachings to his own book - and it works! He has found the sweet spot in the balance between Education, Entertainment and Empowerment. You will learn the basic ingredients of a successful presentation, have fun with the numerous examples from Mark's own experience, and feel refreshed and boiling with energy to bring this to reality in your next presentation. Mark's tips and tricks are as simple as they are effective, and are in reach of every speaker. The exercises in the book enable you to fine-tune them on safe grounds before bringing them in practice.
As this book shows, speaking in public is a skill anyone can just acquire if they give it a real try. Are you nervous in the face of an upcoming presentation? You're not alone and there are ways to overcome it. Is your audience suffering from instant sleepiness when you speak? Most presentations are like that, and it turns out not to be too difficult to keep your listeners' attention. Does your presentation fade out in anticlimax when you stop talking? Mark reverse engineers the last second of successful presentations, allowing you to copy the trick and leave your next audience in a room buzzing with energy and their hands itching to get started.
Go find out for yourself how good your presentations can actually get! You and your audience will be surprised!
Honest book with advice on how to up your presentation game.
The author states that good presentations should educate, entertain, and empower. For me, that's exactly what this book accomplished.
The book weaves together the author's journey (from stage fright to confident speaker) and advice on deliberate practices that anyone can do to improve their public speaking (spoiler: the main trick is to be well-prepared before a presentation).
This content is delivered in a witty, light-hearted way that helps remove some of the anxiety associated with speaking to an audience. The illustrations are funny and complement the text.
I enjoyed reading this book, which added more tricks to my "presentation toolbox".
Final note: these days, many self-published books are either too short or ramble on too much. This one is of the right length, taking the time to walk you through the content, but without fluff.
In one sentence: Absolutely fantastic read, perfect combination of education and fun!
This book is so very well written! I don't think I've ever read a non fiction book that reads as easily as a fiction one - amazing!
This book is accessible to read with a good amount of true British humour, excellent content with tried and proven tips and methods. Plus of course Mark's inspiring and encouraging personal story. Presenting Made Easy is for everyone who would either like to become an excellent presenter, who would like to improve their current public speaking skills, who could do with a confidence boost, who would like to invest in their personal development or who would just like an inspiring read.
As a fellow trainer I will definitely recommend it to the participants in my Presentation Skills courses. Or better still, include it in my courses and just give it as a handout at the end!
And now let me explain slide 85'...yawn.... whats going on on social media...? This will never be the response of your audience, colleagues, or even your family once you are inspired and empowered to Speak! Mark Robinson reveals his tried and tested 'secrets' to a powerful and memorable presentation. He makes use of short chapters that clearly explain how to build your presentation, and then how to present with confidence. It is easy to use and includes plenty of examples, as well as his own story. Practical exercises at the end of each chapter ensure learning will turn into action for you too. I attended Mark's Presentation workshop, which included many of this books tips and tricks and they enabled me to go on and present at my first Conference. This book will be my 'go-to' now each time that I prepare to present, whether for a small or large group. A must buy for any- and everybody!
As a fellow communications trainer and facilitator, I was looking forward to Mark's book because I'd watched his TEDX talk and have used it a few times to spark discussions in MBA classes. I instinctively knew that the book would deliver great value - and Mark exceeded my expectations.
The book is full of practical tips for catapulting your presentations and winning hearts in your favour. Mark also included personal anecdotes, and stories, which when laced with his dry British humour made the book an enjoyable read.
I particularly loved the technique of using positive feedback in workshops to empower participants, and the call for using storytelling to connect.
I highly recommend this book.
- Lucille Ossai
Author, 'Influence and Thrive' & communications trainer
This book is a concise and practical guide for anyone looking to improve their presentation skills. The author breaks down the art of persuasion into simple, actionable steps, making it accessible even for beginners. I appreciated the focus on understanding your audience, crafting a compelling narrative, and delivering with confidence.
The real-world examples and tips on handling stage fright were particularly helpful. While the book covers the essentials well, I felt it could have gone deeper into visual design and advanced storytelling techniques.
Overall, it’s a great starting point for anyone who wants to make their presentations impactful and memorable. A quick and insightful read!
Excellent book to develop your presentation skills! Presenting and public speaking can be complex but the author really gives you the sensation of holding your hand on the journey to being a great presenter as he introduces you to presentation best practices and illustrates them with his own stories of his presentation experiences. Each chapter has a concise summary of the points previously covered and includes exercises and reflections for improving our own performance. There are many presentation skills books on the market but this one is authentic and very practical, definitely recommend it.
A recognizable personal story about how one negative presentation incident in your youth can lead to avoidance of standing in front of a group of people presenting. Avoidance which can lead to stopping yourself from growing in your career. This book made me realize that fear of presenting is something which is something you can overcome but with a little bit of help and tiny experiments. I wish i would have read this book when i was 15 after one negative experiences did everything it take to not stand on that stage. It would made my life much easier.
Mark Robinson is a true master of the tale. He keeps you under his charm from the very beginning until the very last word. The experience shared in this book helps you building the skills you're looking to make a GREAT presentation. While going through the exercices Mark proposes in ths book, you'll learn how to manage the amazing talent consisting in seduce and charm your auditory. The equilibrium between the story behind the book and the presentation skills course is just amazing!
If you ever wanted to become a presentation master, don't think twice and dive in this book!
The book is a true art, summing up all I need to know to transfer. Transfer from a shy person , who despite doing a good piece of engineering or business work does not know how to present it to others. Transfer to an influencer, who can present, inspire and even coach people. The book is in-line with Mark's true story about himself going through this transfer phase and now he is summerise all the know-hows in this book. This can be a great gift for those you love or yourself if you love to quickly gain confidence in speaking! Highly recommended!
The author does what he preaches: speaks/directs, inspires and empowers the reader. The most important effect of the book is that it forms the right mindset inside your head. All tips are practical, but at the same time quite general. Because the they are about principles - they are applicable to practically all presentations or public speaking. Overall a smooth and easy read, but at times a bit raw, which only makes it better, as you feel that is written by a human being, not some kind superhuman.
Already a beneficiary of Marks training I can just say that this book will be able to reach and help an even broader audience. We live in a great period of time where many creative people find the most ingenious solutions to this world's problems. This book will help every reader to use the right amount of tools in order to rally up people behind their ideas.
It is very easy to follow and the advice you get from it is immediately applicable in any kind of situation where you have to give a speech.
This a book filled with hope. Within these pages, I found the courage to speak. You’ll learn that there is easy to access wisdom within this book, waiting to add structure to your story. If you want to be heard, which you deserve, Mark will show you exactly how to achieve just that. It is the book that paved my way to becoming a TEDx speaker. I hope you’ll let this book guide you in making your presenting dreams come true as well!
As Maya Angelou aptly quotes, people don't remember you by what you said but instead by how you made them feel. Mark's book will exactly take you through this journey of feelings in a clear, concise and, easily digestible manner. He provides hands on experience trialed and tested over too many presentations. The book will help you build confidence to deliver a presentation full of meaning and connection with your audience by fueling your own conviction that YOU CAN DO IT.
A few months ago I was one of the enthousiastic members of Mark Robinson’s presentation skills training. As well as the training, this book is very helpful to give powerful and memorable presentations, which makes you succeed in keeping the attention from beginning till the end. And moreover, it makes sure that you will give your presentations with much more confidence and pleasure! Marks presentation skills training and his book are highly recommended!
Mark Robison managed to keep his audience focus and interested not only during his workshop “Presentation Skills” but also while you read his book. His personal experiences, good sense of humor, tips and exercises make you rethink the way you are presenting and how you can improve significantly your skills. This book really inspire and empower you to present any topic to any audience no matter how difficult your topic or audience is.
This book reads extremely well and walks the potential presenter through the steps to create and deliver an engaging presentation. Using a good dose of British humour, the rationale behind each step is sound and clear. Mark presents a very insightful method that takes into primary consideration the needs of your audience. I believe this couldn’t be more relevant in the modern era of information overload and digital distractions. Highly recommended!
The timing of this book couldn't be more important.
I'm sure that many people have spent the last few years sitting through their millionth zoom/teams presentation. Many of which you spent reading other emails or doing other work. So keeping the listeners engaged is even more difficult in these hybrid work times. Mark does a great job of giving you the information on how to make your presentations more engaging, and therefor more impactful.
The stories, techniques and practical assignments help to create presentations that are made to have the attention in the group for more than the 20 minutes that is claimed when presentations, instruction and lessons are cut short. Don't blame the group: develop yourself to be that speaker that keeps the focus of the group and inspire them. The best part of it all: The book uses the same techniques and it works from the first to the last page.
Great book on how to give presentations that keep your audience's attention
This book not only contains great tips and tools on how to give a good presentation but it also contains a lot of humor. The text combines theory with Mark's personal story and that makes it really nice to read. An absolute must read to get your presentations to the next level.