Chapter 6, "Presentation Design: Principles and Techniques," discusses some of the general guidelines that strong slide designs share. There are a few fundamental concepts that, if understood, can help the average individual create effective presentation visuals. Chapter 7, "Sample Slides" shows you sample slides from real world presenters. Here you see samples that are engaging and easy to understand quickly, and attractive.
Delivery
Chapter 8, "The Art of Being Completely Present," is about being fully committed to the moment. If you are not, then to the audience you appear like the person with whom one has a conversation and they are somewhere else, preoccupied with other concerns and not really there. You cannot give a good presentation without being in attendance.
Chapter 9, "Connecting with the Audience," is not about how good the performance is, rather it is how the performer draws his or her audience in to the performance. It is about conversing, sharing, and connecting with those to whom you are presenting to.
The Next Step
Chapter 10, "The Journey Begins" explores the next steps. While many people look for the quick fix, the road to quality goes ever on. As your confidence grows, so should your drive to improve. This is the foundation that greatness is built upon. Lessons are all around you just waiting to be learned.
While Presentation Zen is about creating presentations with respect to slideshow products such as PowerPoint, it contains aspects that transcend into all aspects of life. It is about reflection, analyzation, and realization. It is about creating a better product.
Presentation Zen is not going to teach you PowerPoint - it is going to teach you how not to do PowerPoint badly. If you have a basic understanding of the product, this book will show you how to create presentations that are not overdone and overwhelming.
There is a little repetitiveness in Presentation Zen and a little scattered wandering that takes some getting used to, but the overall goal of showing you what works and what doesn't work is attained. It is simple, clear, and more often than not presents by showing as opposed to telling. This book is well recommended.
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