The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard

by Denise Woods

Foreword by Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali

An internationally renowned and highly sought-after Hollywood voice coach shares proven practices to help anyone utilize the often-untapped power of their own authentic voice.

As the world continues to shift in unexpected ways, now more than ever we need the skills to make a lasting impact when we speak. From a toddler's first words to a speech in front of a large audience, from a marriage proposal to asking for a raise, we are fundamentally verbal animals, using our voices to express ourselves. Yet there has been no authoritative guide to mastering its full capacity, no guide to show us how to utilize our voices to achieve our goals and express our true selves in every aspect of life, from relationships and family to the business arena. Until now.    

As one of the nation’s most sought-after vocal coaches, Denise Woods has worked with everyone from Mahershala Ali, Jessica Chastain, Ray Liotta, Kirsten Dunst, Will Smith, Halle Berry, and Idris Elba. In The Power of Voice, Woods looks back on her work with Hollywood’s biggest stars, providing valuable lessons and exercises that all of us can use to overcome common voice and speech problems, and become confident, effective communicators.  

With her un-matched ability to teach vocal training in real-world terms, Woods offers a much-needed, proven, practical, and invaluable set of tools that will forever change not only how we communicate but ultimately how we see ourselves. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Development, Audiobook, Self Help, Leadership, Unfinished, Communication

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2021

About the author

Denise Woods is one of the nation’s most sought-after voice and dialect coaches, with clients such as Halle Berry, Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Taye Diggs, Ray Liotta, Laurence Fishburne, Jessica Chastain, Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Idris Elba, and many, many more. She is a graduate and former faculty member of The Juilliard School, and a long-time faculty member of California Institute of the Arts.

Reviews

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” —⁣ Maya Angelou⁣

I liked The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard by Denise Woods, a professional vocal coach who has worked with several Hollywood stars. In this book, Denise offers tips for relaxation and breathing along with vocal exercises. She shares anecdotes from her coaching experience and tools for readers to understand the power of voice as a way to communicate, be heard, and connect with audiences, no matter how big or small.
⁣
I’ve always been confident in my skills with the written word, but certainly have room to improve with spoken words aka: voice. I personally got the most out of Chapter 6 — Beyond Words and Chapter 9 — Powers of Persuasion but know different readers will connect with different parts. There’s something for everyone in this helpful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperOne for providing an advance copy of The Power of Voice in exchange for an honest review.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 50%
This book has a lot to do with people's life story and not enough about improving your voice lol But I mean at the end of the day it's kinda hard to critice voice by reading a book. I would actually be interested in hiring Denise Woods to help with my voice, but hearing the how to on voice is not for me.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource to improve your speech through some proven techniques. The book is full of exercises and antidotes related to the exercises to reaffirm why you are doing them.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Janall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Denise knows her stuff- Opera singer, graduate of Jullard, actress and voice coach to celebrities. She shares stories of famous clients she has worked with the help them find their authentic voice. Her tips to improve speech are one part coach- “do this” and one part cheerleader “ you are worth it, expand of the possibilities to be all you can be, and now is the time to shine your light. “ I just love her.
Through out each chapter there are numerous exercises that can be done at home.
My one complaint is that I had a hard time understanding what she was explaining- and determining if i do any of the things she describes. She uses correct terms, and gives pretty detailed descriptions of the position of the tongue and the hard or soft palate, but I’m lost.
I think would be an excellent as an audio book- where you could hear the difference between the sounds.

[KBeautiful1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is Fiyahhhhhhhh!!!!

It is actually what the title states, the power of your voice. I sooo needed this because God is calling me to speak and I need to find my true and authentic voice.

Denise Woods is so amazing and inspirational because she talks about her journey from growing up on the lower east side (NYC) and being the niece of (Sylvia) of the historic restaurant in Harlem (NYC). I really enjoyed listening to her tell her stories of getting started and to where she is now in her personal life and her career.

If you are looking for a book that will help you find your voice to be able to bless the world or family, friends, or just yourself, then this is what you need and you won't be disappointed.

Well Until My Next Review...Ciao!!!

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm disappointed. Denise Woods gave little of what she promised in The Power of Voice. It was loaded with fluff. Light on advice. It felt like the book was a platform for Woods to name-drop and brag about her achievements. I can’t recommend this one.

[Jeffrey Hartman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a “how to” book, It’s not. It’s an opportunity for Ms Woods to praise her self. I could not finish the book.

[Amy Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 80%. I was so excited for this book,as a voice actress I love finding more books and learning about the magic of voice,but this book didn't deliver what the summary promises.

I've read quite a few books on voice techniques and tips and they all get straight to the point,give you all the tools and finish. This one never gets going, it's the author's life story for a few chapters and then every chapter is a story of a couple of stars she's coached and their entire life history. Oh and at the end of each chapter there's a little exercise to try. I got frustrated quite fast,it felt more like a tome of her bragging about how who she's worked with and how they won an Oscar after she helped them and how in demand she is. About 20% of the book is actually giving you any kind of vocal instructions or exercises.

I will try the exercises but I sadly wouldn't recommend this book unless you can get it from a library.

[Deepak Imandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this, while reading Mckinsey website's web page called "Books".
The Power of Voice is a book about working on your inner self (through relaxation), practices to understand your voice & about some of the distractions & distortions of voice studding these with enough examples to drive home Denise's points. One of the things I admire about the book is the personal stories that she tells & the point that she makes- embrace your roots & your dialect & asks her readers to rather focus on the clarity & stresses of the speech.

I like it but not so much for the repetition of content & the meat missing in few client stories that she had shared.

Still, a decent read I would say, loaded with exercises to practice.

Recommended & tagging it as "to-read again"

[Mayela González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nos enfocamos mucho en la imagen, pero la voz, el tono y la manera en la que articulamos nuestras conversaciones, conferencias, es igual de importante. La forma en la que nos comunicamos forma parte de nuestra personalidad y es crítico a la hora de transmitir un mensaje o en simples conversaciones con un amigo. El poder de nuestra voz debe ser descubierto y es inimaginable todo lo que puede alcanzar.
"Can you imagine the benefits to our relationships and careers if we rediscovered this lost art, matching our vocal skills to our authentic personality, being truly heard and understood because we invited others to do the same?" (from "The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard (English Edition)" by Denise Woods)

[Nicole Sun · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is purely based on the quality of the Power of Voice as a book. I haven't finished working through the supplemental exercises, and I think it's very possible that they'll work. I don't doubt Denise's expertise.

The problem is she spent so much time reinforcing her own credibility that this book felt like 90% a sales pitch. Anecdotes would lack substance--she would namedrop people, list their accolades, present their problem, and then describe her clients' awe when she successfully helped them while spending barely any time on the "how."

I'm all for being confident in oneself, but the repetition of self-praise (and repetition overall) without enough content to balance it got to be too much.

[Lolita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vocal Coach Denise Woods has worked with some of Hollywood's biggest stars. In her book "The Power of Voice" she shares tips that will give you the confidence to becoming a powerful Public Speaker. She states putting Power and Passion behind your words can make your life better. She believes how you speak is largely responsible for the way you are perceived. Personal trauma and confidence can affect your voice. I found this to be a great resource for those who are public speakers.

[Jenn McEvoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF this book. I don’t know if it was her voice that drove me nuts in the audiobook or the fact that she sounds out specific sounds. This book was not what I expected at all. I tried so hard to like this one but, it just didn’t do it for me.

If you want to hear an author say, “Round your mouth and say ooooooh ahhhhh mmmmmm”, you may like this book but, otherwise I wouldn’t recommend 😂

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denise Woods writes a text to be shared, drawing on experience and identity. The impact of shaping and sharing voice and believing in one’s own journey is a powerful message. A book to be read widely and highly recommended.

[Paul Vogelzang · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who speaks for a living, this book offered a guide to actually thinking about how I use my voice, and do a better of job of it! Great book and I will interview author Denise Woods soon! Thanks to Harper for providing me this excellent book.

[Ja Tak · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought that it was a “guide“ where you would get 90% of the times, intruductions about voice etc, but 95% of the book is about histories from her in her life. I do not recommend spending your worthy money on this book.

[Andrew Ong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed this as an audiobook, which made more sense. Good tips and stories from Denise Woods.

[Katy]

I received my copy free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Sienna]

Another memoir marketed as a guide. DNF because just wasn't compelling enough compared to what else I could be listening to.