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Public Speaking and Presentation

How These 5 Books Can Make You Articulate Better

Articulating your thoughts into something coherent and confident is not as easy as it sounds. It can be quite daunting if you do not yet have the skills to clearly communicate what you want to but you can certainly learn how to articulate better using how to articulate better books.

It is never too late to get better at articulation so that you can say and ask for what you want with confidence. One way in which you can work on this is by reading books (in general) as well as those specifically written to help you improve this skill.

Through this guide, I will take you through some of the best resources that you can make use of to figure out how to articulate better by reading books. Let’s begin!

5 Best Books to Improve Articulation

Through this section, you can go through some of the best books to improve articulation as well as their pros and cons so that you know what to expect from them before buying them.

It’s the Way You Say It: Becoming Articulate, Well-Spoken, and Clear by Carol A. Fleming

This book by Carol A. Fleming recognizes that the way you communicate your thoughts, ideas, emotions and overall personality can make a huge difference when it comes to making an impression and having others truly understand your feelings, intelligence and intentions.

There are several tips, useful pieces of advice and practical exercises that you can gain access to through this book.

These cover aspects such as figuring out how others can hear you, how to conquer speech-related issues, how to alter your speech patterns, how to make accurate use of vocabulary and grammar as well as how to communicate non-verbally.

There are also several detailed sections of the book that focus on articulating yourself in your workplace in particular.

Features

  • Length: 264 pages
  • Format: Paperback, Audiobook, eTextbook
  • Publication Year: 2013

Pros

  • There are several exercises for you to gain more practical experience so that you can improve your articulation as you go along.
  • The section on workplace communication includes real stories along with tips for interviews and presentations.
  • You can learn how to make your tone more dynamic and interesting through this book.
  • The book covers a wide range of speech issues and how to make them better.
  • It offers a realistic approach to figuring out what you sound like to other people.

Cons

  • It does not cover any advice for slow talkers.

On Speaking Well: How to Give a Speech With Style, Substance, and Clarity by Peggy Noonan

This book is aimed at making people feel more clear, confident and comfortable when it comes to communicating their feelings and ideas in as articulate a manner as possible.

This book particularly emphasizes good speech giving and how you can go about the process of preparing for it. It gives you several tips that you can make use of when it comes to speaking genuinely about something that interests you.

Relying on structure, substance and simplicity, you can become better at giving confident, interesting and relevant speeches. You can find several tips and exercises that you can then apply to your speech.

While this might relate to official or professional speeches, you can also use many of these tips for improving your articulation in general as well.

Features

  • Length: 224 pages
  • Format: Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle
  • Publication Year: 1999

Pros

  • This book can offer ways to give speeches in an authentic and clear manner.
  • It offers important tips and advice that you can use for modulating your voice and making yourself sound interesting and clear.
  • You can apply all of these tips to general articulation as well, especially if you need to deal with situations at the workplace.
  • You can figure out how to simplify your content to make it more accessible to a wider audience.
  • It provides real-life experiences and examples to get a more practical and realistic idea about giving speeches.

Cons

  • It can feel a bit partisan towards the end of the book.

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This is quite a classic when it comes to using your (literal) voice to win people over and successfully get your point across. You can not only use the tips, tricks and advice mentioned in this book to present logical arguments and make people agree to your viewpoint but you can also learn how to converse in an articulate way.

A big part of presenting your ideas and winning people over is how you articulate yourself. Through this book, you can figure out how to use and utter your words in an effective way.

This can apply to all kinds of situations where you have to converse and communicate including personal as well as professional contexts.

There are six methods to make people like you, twelve methods to make them agree with you and nine ways to make them change their own point of view. It also offers effective solutions for healthily critiquing others.

Features

  • Length: 288 pages
  • Format: Paperback, Audiobook, Kindle
  • Publication Year: 1998

Pros

  • This book offers tried-and-tested methods, especially since it has been in print for so long.
  • It can provide you with detailed and organized tips to improve your articulation skills that you can then practice to perfect.
  • It covers articulation and presentations when it comes to both personal and professional settings, making it versatile enough to learn from.
  • You can find ways to make a great first impression simply by articulating your thoughts properly.
  • You can find tips to use when it comes to offering constructive criticism in a way that your listeners will take you seriously.

Cons

  • It might appear a bit dated at times.

Tongue Fu!: How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse Any Verbal Conflict by Sam Horn

Great for dealing with situations that usually leave you tongue-tied, this option is another effective way to learn how to articulate better through books. This focuses particularly on articulating yourself properly and standing your ground when it comes to verbal conflicts.

This can include personal as well as professional conflicts that you might have to face at some point or the other when it comes to your life.

Through it, you can not only learn how to present your argument better but also how to quit the conflict at the right moment. This book focuses on the importance of accepting defeat as well as your wins, learning how to concede the argument, how to make use of silence efficiently and more.

Through these tips, you can save yourself from breaking down the next time you have to firmly put your thoughts across. This can also help you gain more confidence in your feelings.

Features

  • Length: 256 pages
  • Format: Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle
  • Publication Year: 1997

Pros

  • You can learn how to hold your ground in verbal conflicts through this book.
  • Instead of simply providing tips about arguing effectively, this book also suggests ways to concede the conflict and be the better person in the fight when it calls for it.
  • You can practice its methods to prevent yourself from getting tongue-tied or unprepared when the situation arises.
  • It can help you deal with people being rude to you so that you can stand your ground against them, helping you gain self-confidence.
  • You can learn how to wield silence well through the tips provided in this book.

Cons

  • It can seem a bit dated.

Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond by Jay Sullivan

This book focuses on communicating and articulating yourself well in professional situations such as in the workplace. It also goes beyond that and offers some useful advice that you can then apply to all aspects of your life that involve you to articulate your emotions properly.

Apart from simply listing down some tips for you to contextualize, this book takes it a step further and offers specific contexts and how you can hone your skills for each kind of situation.

These tips, pieces of advice and exercises can help you put your point across successfully, manage otherwise difficult situations, serve as a good example for others and solve conflicts in a way that works well for everyone.

It also provides regular tips to listen properly to others.

Features

  • Length: 288
  • Format: Paperback, Audiobook, Kindle
  • Publication Year: 2016

Pros

  • It can help you listen to others better.
  • It can provide you with ways to deal with conflicts.
  • It can apply to both personal and professional situations.
  • It combines tips with context to provide realistic exercises.
  • You can figure out how to deal with all kinds of difficult situations.

Cons

  • It can seem a bit wordy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does Reading Books Help With Articulation?

Reading such books can widen your perspective and equip you with tips to articulate yourself better.

How Else Can Reading Help With Communication?

Reading can build your grammar, vocabulary, perspective and more so that you can simplify and contextualize your ideas.

Parting Thoughts

Through this guide, I have taken you through some books that can teach you how to articulate better. You can now take a pick, start reading and keep practicing how to articulate yourself well.

About Author

Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

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