Book Review: 'Talk Like TED' by Carmine Gallo

Honestly speaking, TED Talks never really resonated with me, because it felt a bit over the top. The talks make us feel like we can achieve anything. Anything seems possible, if only we had the courage to act. Yes we can! But then, what?

This kind of emptiness held me back from TED talks. I knew they are informative, inspiring, innovative, and worth listening to. Yet I didn't have the courage to get involved.

So, I decided to explore further. This book became my experiment to see if there was more to TED Talks than just motivational speeches.

Talk Like TED

Embody The Message You Share

I can teach you how to tell a story. I can teach you how to design a gorgeous PowerPoint slide. I can even teach you how to use your voice and body more effectively. Effective stories, slides, and body language are important components of a persuasive presentation, yet they mean little if the speaker isn't passionate about his or her topic. The first step to inspiring others is to make sure you're inspired yourself. The simplest way to identify that which you are truly passionate about is to ask yourself the question I raised earlier in the chapter: "What makes my heart sing?"

p.39-40

I completely agree with this idea, and I genuinely believe I've been living by it. Whenever I have to give a presentation on a topic that doesn't immediately grab my attention, I make a point to dive deep into it. I strive to become a true enthusiast, even if it's not initially my cup of tea.

Here are the 9 points that the author wants us to drive home.

#1 Unleash the Master Within
#2 Master the Art of Storytelling
#3 Have a Conversation
#4 Teach Me Something New
#5 Deliver Jaw-Dropping Moments
#6 Lighten Up
#7 Stick to the 18-Minute Rule
#8 Paint a Mental Picture with Multisensory Experiences
#9 Stay in Your Lane

Among these rules, #1 is definitely the most important one, as the rest will naturally follow if you truly adhere the #1. Being passionate about your topic enables you to craft intriguing stories (#2), engage in conversational speech rather than delivering stiff presentations (#3), and carefully consider how to make your presentation more compelling, jaw-dropping, shocking, and humorous (#4, #5, #6). It's challenging to be heavily passionate about numerous topics, which makes it harder to let your presentation go over 18 minutes (#7). You would worry about whether the audience could understand your point, prompting you to incorporate a lot of visual aids into your slides (#8). Of course, you can stay in your lane because you are talking about what truly ignites your passion (#9).

At the end of my interview with TED speaker Larry Smith, he said, "I wish you success." Smith doesn't say "Good luck" because luck has little to do with your success. You don't need luck to be an inspiring speaker. You need examples, techniques, passion, and practice. You also need courage -- the courage to follow your passion, articulate your ideas simply, and express what makes your heart sing.

p.248

My Impression

Great. 4.5 out of 5.
In my view, this book is not about how to 'talk like TED', but how to 'live like TED'. Acquiring techniques alone is not sufficient for mastery. Most people can spot a fake. To excel as a writer, speaker, teacher, or any role, genuine transformation in one's lifestyle is essential.

While I mentioned in the introduction that I was not a big fan of TED Talks, reading this book revealed the incredible passion TED speakers bring to their talks, sparking my interest in them. I plan to explore some TED Talks soon.