Alain de Botton on Dieter Rams and Good Design

A while back, I wrote a post about Dieter Rams, the German industrial designer who is recognized as one of the most influential industrial designers of the 20th century. Rams worked for 40 years at the German consumer products company, Braun. Today, he works at Vitsœ, a British furniture company. In the early 1980’s, as he became […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 223) – Irish Proverb

Beagán a rá agus é a rá go maith. / Say little but say it well. Irish Proverb
The Most Astounding Fact – Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist and author. He is also one of the most compelling speakers when it comes to talking about science. In the short video below, Tyson is asked the following question: “What is the most astounding fact that you can share with us about the universe?” Now that’s a pretty profound question. Tyson’s answer […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 222) – Milton Glaser

“There are three responses to a piece of design—Yes, No and Wow! Wow is the one to aim for.” Milton Glaser
How not to screw up an introduction like the ABC moderators at the Republican Presidential Debate

Moderators must do better. The Republican Presidential Debate on 6 February 2016 began in appalling fashion. And I am not talking about the candidates. Take a look. I would have expected better. Seriously, it looked like amateur hour. Many people have been poking fun at Ben Carson and Donald Trump for missing their cues. But […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 221) – Norman Vincent Peale

“I give the same mashed potatoes for each speech. I just change the gravy.” Norman Vincent Peale
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 220) – William Zinsser

“Who can understand the clotted language of everyday American commerce: the memo, the corporate report, the business letter, the notice from the bank explaining its latest “simplified” statement? “What member of an insurance plan can decipher the brochure explaining the costs and benefits? What father or mother can put together a child’s toy from the […]
Stan Grant's Speech on Racism in Australia

Stan Grant, an indigenous Australian journalist, gave a speech in October 2015 at a debate on racism in Australia. The video of that speech has gone viral. Several people are touting it as the Australian equivalent of Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech. While I would not elevate this speech to that status—and Grant himself has said that, […]
Toastmasters' Most Buzzworthy Speeches of 2015

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization’s membership exceeds 332,000 in more than 15,400 clubs in 135 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. […]
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