Thomas Montalbo, formerly a financial manager for the U.S. Treasury Department, draws from more than 20 years of public speaking and speech writing experience to produce a book with an interesting premise. This is a call to resurrect the eloquence we usually associate with great issues and great men, but Montalbo points out that eloquence is not restricted to great issues and great men. “Why be an average speaker when you can be one of the best?”

The number three has a strong psychological appeal. Grouping thoughts or saying things in a series of three — three points, three qualities, three reasons — attracts attention, creates rhythm, and facilitates memory. The triple recurrence strengthens the ideas expressed and compels listeners to understand and remember. Historic and modern examples illustrate this effect.

With appropriate tailoring to the circumstances, conscious attention to six basic steps builds the foundation for successful speech making: 1) Analyze the audience, 2) choose the subject, 3) determine the purpose. 4) research the subject, 5) write the text, and 6) practice the speech.

taught in two chapters.The other eight chapters teach how to listen to the listeners and assess their needs, strengthen the speaker's ability, and enhance communication in any setting.So that students in a college speech class can practice the patterns explained in abstract terms, Frank and Ray offer speech exercises, called enactments.They set the communica tion scene, list the characters, and explain their purpose.Some students are to role-play while the others watch.To critique the enactment, the watchers are to answer trouble shooting questions listed in the text.In their critiques they are to explain and show how to improve communication in that setting.So that a reader at home can think about the same patterns, Frank and Ray offer open-ended questions, called inventories.They state truisms, add the word because, and leave blank lines for the reader to fill in from insight.For example, "A public presentation is remembered longer, because "; "I do/don't always know what to say, because "; "I would present a briefing of a problem to a small group by speaking/ performing with a low/medium/high degree of spontaneity, because _."This textbook is highly readable.Its layout is attractive with bold headings, short paragraphs, indented lists, and graphics related to the text.Despite the abstract terms, the sentences bounce in concise phrasing.I commend the authors and their editors for caring enough about their readers to present the material so readably.In addition to facts, this book should be read for a fueling, an attitude of professionalism in communication.

Winston Churchill was not a “natural” orator but he overcame his handicaps so well that he was awarded a Nobel Prize for his writings and “brilliant oratory.” Seven lessons in speech making are abstracted from a study of his life and oratory: (1) Know the language; (2) listen to good speakers; (3) endure any handicap; (4) read good books; (5) use rhetorical devices; (6) prepare and practice; and (7) show feelings and personality.