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Better Presentations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks
Whether you are a university professor, researcher at a think tank, graduate student, or analyst at a private firm, chances are that at some point you have presented your work in front of an audience. Most of us approach this task by converting a written document into slides, but the result is often a text-heavy presentation saddled with bullet points, stock images, and graphs too complex for an audience to decipher--much less understand. Presenting is fundamentally different from writing, and with only a little more time, a little more effort, and a little more planning, you can communicate your work with force and clarity.
Designed for presenters of scholarly or data-intensive content, Better Presentations details essential strategies for developing clear, sophisticated, and visually captivating presentations. Following three core principles--visualize, unify, and focus--Better Presentations describes how to visualize data effectively, find and use images appropriately, choose sensible fonts and colors, edit text for powerful delivery, and restructure a written argument for maximum engagement and persuasion. With a range of clear examples for what to do (and what not to do), the practical package offered in Better Presentations shares the best techniques to display work and the best tactics for winning over audiences. It pushes presenters past the frustration and intimidation of the process to more effective, memorable, and persuasive presentations.
Designed for presenters of scholarly or data-intensive content, Better Presentations details essential strategies for developing clear, sophisticated, and visually captivating presentations. Following three core principles--visualize, unify, and focus--Better Presentations describes how to visualize data effectively, find and use images appropriately, choose sensible fonts and colors, edit text for powerful delivery, and restructure a written argument for maximum engagement and persuasion. With a range of clear examples for what to do (and what not to do), the practical package offered in Better Presentations shares the best techniques to display work and the best tactics for winning over audiences. It pushes presenters past the frustration and intimidation of the process to more effective, memorable, and persuasive presentations.
200 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2016
73 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 19, 2019
This is a nice, concise introduction to all parts of the presentation process, from planning to slide design to packing a presenter tool bag. Would be good for readers who are new to the topic of effective presentations (e.g., students, people who currently give lackluster presentations). Most of what’s covered is covered in other books (e.g., Slide:ology, Presentation Zen, Storytelling with Data), but Chapters 7 (scaffolding slides) and 9 (technical nitty gritty) seemed like unique contributions.
December 1, 2024
Useful primer with key concepts explained.
July 14, 2025
➛ better presentations ★★★.25
February 25, 2024
This is an excellent stand-alone book on how to design and deliver a great presentation. And it also provides a ton of great further reading suggestions. Very highly recommended!
July 19, 2018
If you ever need to present your data, and you're not ready to get a minor in graphic design, then this is the book for you! It's simple, easy to follow advice, and you can read it in an afternoon.
The most valuable message he provides is "care about presentation!", which a lot of scientists miss, arguing that they are too busy, thinking it doesn't matter, and why would you try to cater to shallow audience members anyway?
I am too new and inexperienced to say whether nice slides really make a difference in transmitting a message, but as a new and inexperienced presenter, I know that I feel waaay more confident in my presentations when my slides look nice. Also as an audience member, I can clearly remember presentations that had strikingly good slides. Therefore, I would recommend this book to any person with a lot of presentations in their future.
Pros:
The advice was overall really good, and basic enough that it doesn't require designer intuition or software to implement. Everything he shows is implemented in PowerPoint. A lot of it you could have figured out for yourself if you had actually stopped to think about it (font size, consistent color schemes), but a lot of people just don't.
I especially appreciated the example slides, and how he would present bad slides he had found, and convert them into nice ones.
Con:
As a scientist and not an economist, I think he exaggerated in his over-simplification at times. He would sometimes reduce a graph so much as to remove axis labels! This is fundamentally wrong, because anyone who got temporarily distracted should be able to look back at your plot and figure out for themselves what it shows. Also, removing that "unnecessary clutter" might make your message clearer and more convincing, but it is also cheating the public; if your effect sizes are tiny, you could completely cover that up by not providing the real axis values.
The most valuable message he provides is "care about presentation!", which a lot of scientists miss, arguing that they are too busy, thinking it doesn't matter, and why would you try to cater to shallow audience members anyway?
I am too new and inexperienced to say whether nice slides really make a difference in transmitting a message, but as a new and inexperienced presenter, I know that I feel waaay more confident in my presentations when my slides look nice. Also as an audience member, I can clearly remember presentations that had strikingly good slides. Therefore, I would recommend this book to any person with a lot of presentations in their future.
Pros:
The advice was overall really good, and basic enough that it doesn't require designer intuition or software to implement. Everything he shows is implemented in PowerPoint. A lot of it you could have figured out for yourself if you had actually stopped to think about it (font size, consistent color schemes), but a lot of people just don't.
I especially appreciated the example slides, and how he would present bad slides he had found, and convert them into nice ones.
Con:
As a scientist and not an economist, I think he exaggerated in his over-simplification at times. He would sometimes reduce a graph so much as to remove axis labels! This is fundamentally wrong, because anyone who got temporarily distracted should be able to look back at your plot and figure out for themselves what it shows. Also, removing that "unnecessary clutter" might make your message clearer and more convincing, but it is also cheating the public; if your effect sizes are tiny, you could completely cover that up by not providing the real axis values.
March 27, 2023
If you're looking to improve your presentations and communicate more effectively with your audience, "Better Presentations" by Jonathan Schwabish is a book you should check out.
This book provides a comprehensive guide to planning and delivering effective presentations, with practical examples and theoretical concepts.
It covers several important sections, from organizing your ideas and designing effective slides to delivering your presentation with confidence. The book shows its emphasizes how to use colors, images, text, and data visualization more effectively to support your message.
One of the key strengths of the book is its emphasis on the continuous practice of your presentation, with guidance on how to use body language and emotions to connect with your audience, and this leads to using and improving storytelling when communicating with the audience.
Overall, I found the book to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their presentation skills whether you're a public speaker, researcher, employee, or just starting, this book has something to offer.
This book provides a comprehensive guide to planning and delivering effective presentations, with practical examples and theoretical concepts.
It covers several important sections, from organizing your ideas and designing effective slides to delivering your presentation with confidence. The book shows its emphasizes how to use colors, images, text, and data visualization more effectively to support your message.
One of the key strengths of the book is its emphasis on the continuous practice of your presentation, with guidance on how to use body language and emotions to connect with your audience, and this leads to using and improving storytelling when communicating with the audience.
Overall, I found the book to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their presentation skills whether you're a public speaker, researcher, employee, or just starting, this book has something to offer.
December 31, 2020
Very useful presentation enhancements
If you make a lot of presentations using PowerPoint or other visual presentation software, this book will likely provide a bevy of very useful information to you. I found myself using the suggestions in the presentations I was making even as I read the book. I can attest these strategies do work very well. I already feel my presentations are indeed better because of the suggestions I have used so far. I look forward to adopting many other of these concepts as well.
On the downside, this book doesn’t have the most captivating writing. While if you’re looking for great content, this book will meet likely meet your expectations, but if that content must be wrapped in engaging text, perhaps look elsewhere.
If you make a lot of presentations using PowerPoint or other visual presentation software, this book will likely provide a bevy of very useful information to you. I found myself using the suggestions in the presentations I was making even as I read the book. I can attest these strategies do work very well. I already feel my presentations are indeed better because of the suggestions I have used so far. I look forward to adopting many other of these concepts as well.
On the downside, this book doesn’t have the most captivating writing. While if you’re looking for great content, this book will meet likely meet your expectations, but if that content must be wrapped in engaging text, perhaps look elsewhere.
May 24, 2017
This book has now become a close-second to Presentation Zen as a favourite presentation book. While this book is not as nicely laid out as PZ, it is written with the academic/scientist in mind. I think my academic colleagues will relate to this book easier than others.
It has great ideas on how to design your story, your presentation and how to prepare your data visualization. It is well worth a read!
It has great ideas on how to design your story, your presentation and how to prepare your data visualization. It is well worth a read!
March 13, 2020
I’ve read A LOT on this subject but I must say this is one of the best one-stop-shop books in the genre. Okay, I’d recommend consulting a few other contributions (e.g. stuff by Nancy Duarte, Garr Reynolds, Stephen Few - and, maybe less obvious, Alex Osterwalder, the Heath brothers, John Medina among others) but still...
One thing I particularly liked was the author’s many, many references to highly useful literature, web sites, software etc.
One thing I particularly liked was the author’s many, many references to highly useful literature, web sites, software etc.
March 31, 2021
I've been able to implement many of the techniques from this book into my presentations over the past month to great effect. While some of the advice is quick to become outdated due to its specificity (of technical software, i.e. the location of certain features within Excel/Word), much of the interpersonal content is timeless and very very applicable to any presenter in any field or profession.
December 17, 2021
Excellent place to start if you're looking to boost your skills - whether it be presentation construction (b\c your slides could be better!) or the act of presenting itself.
Or you could not read it, continue to present as you always have & wonder why people start looking at their phones as soon as you start speaking.
Or you could not read it, continue to present as you always have & wonder why people start looking at their phones as soon as you start speaking.
July 29, 2022
Very solid advice, and many would do well to follow it. Comes with resources and ideas. While focused on Powerpoint of a certain vintage, it is easily adaptable to other presentation technology. I have shared this book with other people in my org, and I am assimilating it in my own practice. Totally recommend.
June 14, 2018
Good pictorial design examples. Common sense, but in my experience, no one uses that when constructing good presentations. *Biggest pet peeve - putting your presentation on your slides and then reading it to me.
June 29, 2017
This is a useful handbook for those who are looking to improve their design of PowerPoint presentations. The author provides a wealth of tips, guidelines, and resources.
November 11, 2017
Practical guide to improving the design of your power point presentations
January 23, 2018
Great book on presentation preparation. I really enjoyed reading it. Few of my presentations I have prepared according to this book and they were very well accepted.
January 6, 2019
A very easy read with lots of helpful tips! Anyone-and I mean ANYONE-who gives presentations (even occasionally) should own/read this book!
September 6, 2019
An easy read but less substance than I expected.
December 11, 2019
Would recommend this to any researcher or analyst who wants to improve her presentation skills. Fantastic guide to design and appearance from an economist to other researchers.
November 4, 2022
Great reference for presenting!
November 27, 2023
I had to read this for a class where presentations played a large role. It was informative and helpful. I never knew how much really goes into a good presentation.
October 6, 2025
This book breaks down essential points in preparing better presentation.
March 22, 2017
A really quick but helpful read. Really appreciated the multiple figures to compare small changes in design.
January 29, 2017
Excellent book for anyone who gives technical presentations.
March 28, 2018
Fantastic. Super useful.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews