For the former press secretary for Joe Biden and a variety of other jobs dealing with the public, this is in part autobiography. She refers to the title as saying things with more impact, not necessarily with more words, i.e. communication skills.
She deals with what to say and what not to say in a job interview, the most impactful use of hands and body langage, and how to deal with misinformation. The linguistic gymnastics some politicians are masters of, to avoid answering a question, often amaze me.
Perhaps the most difficult task for a dedicated public speaker is when dealing with personal attacks as happened when Russian propaganda attacked her to divert attention away from her message about the war in Ukraine. She discusses knowing your audience and tailoring the message to their level, criticizing medical specialists who use too much medicalize. The selective use of humour is a particularly difficult skill for public speakers to master, that can easily backfire.
I didn’t learn much that will help me with my limited communication skills by listening to this book, but it was a light and enjoyable session. I recall a colleague who, when asked a question, would pause, and then answer in a long grammatically perfect paragraph.
3.5/5.
The Passionate Reader 