Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery, 3rd Edition

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery, 3rd Edition

by Garr Reynolds
Released December 2019
Publisher(s): New Riders
ISBN: 9780135897751

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Book description

Garr Reynolds, author of the best-selling book on presentation design and delivery, is back with this newly revised edition of this classic book, Presentation Zen. Showing us there is a better way to reach your audience through simplicity and storytelling, Garr tackles the conventional wisdom of making presentations with slides and shares his approach to designing and delivering successful and provocative presentations. In this new edition, Garr includes fresh examples from which to draw inspiration, and offers techniques for cutting through the noise and distractions of modern life and truly engaging with your audiences in a meaningful way. Combining the solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, Presentation Zen, Third Edition, puts you solidly on the path to creating simpler, more effective presentations that will be appreciated, remembered, and best of all, acted upon.

“Presentation Zen changed my life and the lives of my clients. The philosophy and approach so elegantly explained in Garr’s book will inspire your audience. Don’t even think of giving another presentation without it!”

Carmine Gallo

Author, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and Talk Like TED

“Garr has broken new ground in the way we think about the power of presentations, and more important, has taught an entire generation of communicators how to do a better job. Don’t miss this one.”

Seth Godin

Legendary presenter and author, This is Marketing

“If you care about the quality and clarity of your presentations–and you should–pick up this book, read every page, and heed its wisdom. Presentation Zen is a contemporary classic.”

Daniel H. Pink

Author, A Whole New Mind and Drive

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication Page
  5. Table of Contents
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. Foreword by Guy Kawasaki
  8. Introduction
    1. 1. Presenting in Today’s World
      1. The Presentation Zen Approach
      2. Presentations Today
      3. Presentation Generation
      4. Presentations in the “Conceptual Age”
      5. In Sum
  9. Preparation
    1. 2. Creativity, Limitations, and Constraints
      1. Start with the Beginner’s Mind
      2. Presentation Is a Creative Act
      3. The Art of Working with Restrictions
      4. In Sum
    2. 3. Planning Analog
      1. Slowing Down to See
      2. Paper, a Whiteboard, Post-it Notes, or a Stick in the Sand
      3. Asking the Right Questions
      4. Two Questions: What’s Your Point? & Why Does It Matter?
      5. Handouts Can Set You Free
      6. The Benefit of Planning Well
      7. In Sum
    3. 4. Crafting the Story
      1. What Makes Messages Stick?
      2. Story and Storytelling
      3. The Process
      4. Digital Storyboards
      5. Editing and Restraint
      6. In Sum
  10. Design
    1. 5. Simplicity: Why It Matters
      1. Steve Jobs and the Zen Aesthetic
      2. Kanso, Shizen, Shibumi
      3. Amplification Through Simplification
      4. In Sum
    2. 6. Presentation Design: Principles and Techniques
      1. General Design Principles
      2. Signal-to-Noise Ratio
      3. Picture Superiority Effect
      4. Empty Space
      5. Fundamentals: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity
      6. In Sum
    3. 7. Sample Visuals: Images & Text
      1. Fill the Screen: Redux
      2. Sample Slide Decks
      3. Lessons from the Bamboo
      4. Think Like a Designer
      5. The Changing Landscape of Grantmaking
      6. Factfulness
      7. Japanese Hot Springs Etiquette
      8. Takahashi Method
      9. Doodlers, Unite!
      10. What is Innovation
      11. The Role of Student Presentations in 21st Century Learning
      12. In Sum
  11. Delivery
    1. 8. The Art of Being Completely Present
      1. Steve Jobs and the Art of the Swordsman
      2. Learning from the Art of Judo
      3. Contribution and Being in the Moment
      4. In Sum
    2. 9. Connecting with an Audience
      1. Jazz, Zen, and the Art of Connection
      2. Start Strong to Make a Connection
      3. Project Yourself
      4. Hara Hachi Bu: Why Length Matters
      5. In Sum
    3. 10. The Need for Engagement
      1. Remove Barriers to Communication
      2. In Sum
  12. Next Step
    1. 11. The Journey Begins
      1. How to Improve
      2. Conclusion
  13. Photo Credits
  14. Index

Product information

  • Title: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Garr Reynolds
  • Release date: December 2019
  • Publisher(s): New Riders
  • ISBN: 9780135897751