Be the Best Bad Presenter Ever: Break the Rules, Make Mistakes, and Win Them Over

Karen Hough delivers a humorous, compassionate, encouraging book to help you to bring your best self to presenting. She is deeply knowledgeable; her book is based both upon her own experiences with presenting, improv, and working with others as well as on information derived from neuroscience and behavioral science. There are wonderful references for those who want to read more.Her videos that support the book are easily accessed and very helpful. I just gave a presentation yesterday that I KNOW was much better because I had Karen supporting me all the way. In the videos, you just feel her rooting and pulling for you. I did several things deliberately because of her book: I practiced more (yesterday alone, I did it 5 times), I did NOT practice in front of the mirror (as usual), and I practiced with a louder voice as if I were in front of an entire audience. I also resisted the desire to put a lot of information on my slides and instead went with few slides that contained pictures or quotes that went across the entire screen. I also told a story before I gave ANY statistical information. I got great feedback about the presentation!This is truly a great resource that I will use time and again! Thank you!!

I was starting to write what is probably the most challenging speech I will ever give. After hearing the author present at a local event, I read Be The Best Bad Presenter Ever. The book helped me reduce my fears and organize the presentation in a friendlier, less wordy, more organized manner. No more power points! It also gave me important little tips like practicing the speech in front of a mirror. The book isn't dry and boring like some self-help books; It's fast paced. It has given me tools to feel confident that I will make a great presentation and that I will be a better public speaker in the future. Anyone with an important speech to give, old pros who think they already know everything about public speaking, and students whose chins tremble at the thought of giving a class presentation will benefit from reading the book.

This book was recommended by a coworker so I had fairly high expectations. Unfortunately, the book didn't quite meet them. Don't get me wrong, Karen provides excellent advice. But, the style of the book just didn't resonate with me. The book is short, but felt much longer. I think her points could have been made more succinctly. I found the references to 'being bad' somewhat gimmicky. Parts of the book had too much "and then I did this'. Felt a bit like an advertisement. I think the style and the language would have been much more suited to a presentation than a book. In fact, each chapter as a video snippet would be excellent. When it comes to presentation advice, 'showing it' is more effective than writing about it. I suspect a presentation by Karen would be impressive.

Highly recommend! This is the only book or person who has actually helped me with public speaking. Don’t listen to the old rules. Break them and be yourself. No more death by PowerPoint. Be your bad self!Thanks Karen

In my professional career, I’ve followed all the rules that Karen suggests breaking. I wish I had this book sooner. It’s difficult figuring out how to be yourself in front of a crowd or leading a meeting, but I can see how Karen’s advice will make it easier. We’re all so afraid of making mistakes, but we should be more afraid of being boring! I know a few co-workers I will recommend this book to.

This book takes a unique perspective on public speaking. I agree that the "rules" were meant to be broken! It's truly the only way to be your authentic self.It's a swift read and it's packed with realistic examples that you can take to your next presentation. Be BAD already and get it!

I bought this to help me prepare as moderator with some heavy hitters in the wine world. Not only did it give me good ideas putting the presentaton together, but gave me confidence and poise, as well as the ability to step back and breathe before the presentation.

AmazingChanging my teaching and coaching methods