AUTHOR
The author of this book is a Professor of Anaesthesia, St George’s Hospital, University of London, UK.
BACKGROUND TO THE BOOK
Many trainees in medicine, while competent in their speciality, struggle to give a good presentation at a meeting. The aim of this book is to provide a basic framework around which a proficient talk can be built. The content covers the essential parts of presentation, preparation of visual aids and computer generated slides and provides advice on how to sell a message, how to appear on stage and how to deal with questions.
OVERVIEW OF CONTENT
The book has 72 pages. It consists of preface and index with 11 chapters as follows:
Principles of communication
Preparation of the talk
The three talks
Visual aids
Computer generated slides: how to make a mess with power point
How to appear on stage
How to sell a message
How to present a talk
How to deal with questions
How not to give a presentation
How to chair a session
THE READERSHIP MOST SUITED FOR THIS
The book is suited for all the training and trained health professionals starting from senior house officers to senior faculty in any speciality. It will be suitable for trainees preparing for a department preparation, interdisciplinary meetings and also faculty who are invited to speak as experts. This book is suitable for all teachers in medicine: there are also some valid points for a good lecture preparation.
APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CONTENT TO TARGET READERSHIP
The content is suitable for the intended readership. The fact that the editor included a variety of authors makes this book good reading for many categories of health professionals.
COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THE CONTENT
The book covers the principles of communication, how to prepare a talk well and the importance of rehearsal. There is very good advice on the various types of visual aids and how to use them well. There are also very good tips on the preparation of power point slides, how to appear on stage and how to get a message across. The importance of capturing the curiosity of the audience and aiming for brevity and clarity is underlined. There is also a chapter on how to deal with questions.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONTENT
The contents are well organized, but possibly the chapters on how to appear on stage and how to present a talk could have preceded the other chapters like “the three talks”. The chapter on how not to give a presentation is equally interesting and important.
GENERAL COMMENTS ON QUALITY OF CONTENT AND PRODUCTION
The book is small and easy to be carried around. It is a paperback edition and can easily be read during a short travel trip. It is worth possessing until you become a regular and popular speaker and even after that.