Speaking in public: advice and guides Books

Book SynopsisIn this streamlined and updated edition of Dale Carnegie’s communications classic, learn how to achieve greater success and have maximum impact as a speaker in every situation that requires convincing others of your point of view.Good public speakers are made, not born—as the pioneer of personal business skills, Dale Carnegie, once argued. Yet business, social, and personal satisfaction and success often depends heavily upon your ability to communicate clearly. In The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, you can acquire and perfect your public speaking skills. Featuring accessible step-by-step instructions, you will learn how to build confidence, courage, and enthusiasm in every situation, including the boardroom and beyond.

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Book SynopsisQuintilian, born in Spain about AD 35, became a renowned and successful teacher of rhetoric in Rome. In The Orator's Education (Institutio Oratoria), a comprehensive training program in twelve books, he draws on his own rich experience. It provides not only insights on oratory, but also a picture of Roman education and social attitudes.

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Book SynopsisThe Rhetorical Surface of Democracy: How Deliberative Ideals Undermine Democratic Politics, by Scott Welsh, disputes the idea that democracy has anything to do with public deliberation in pursuit of collective judgment. Welsh argues, rather, that the impossibility of any kind of public judgment is the fact that democracy must face.Trade ReviewScott Welsh has written a terrific book. It is so rich that this short review must pass over many of the thorny, deliciously complex, issues he raises. Welsh’s guiding light is Kenneth Burke, whose work he appears to have memorized, and he manages to replicate Burke’s wide-ranging curiosity along with his refusal to accept prevailing pieties. ... Welsh does not shy away from the toughest questions and his meditations on them are always thought-provoking. He fully grasps the difficulties, even paradoxes, that are part and parcel of the democratic project. * Rhetoric Society Quarterly *Any rhetorician who has become too complacent with platitudes about “deliberative democracy” and the 'common good' should welcome Scott Welsh’s book, The Rhetorical Surface of Democracy: How Deliberative Ideals Undermine Democratic Politics, with the same sense of gratitude that Socrates expressed toward Callicles: 'I realize that a person who is going to put a soul to an adequate test to see whether it lives rightly or not must have three qualities, all of which you have: knowledge, goodwill, and frankness' (Plato, Gorgias, 487a). All three of these qualities are indeed present in Welsh’s book: a comprehensive knowledge of major philosophers and contemporary rhetorical theorists; a refreshing frankness and critical eye toward democratic and rhetorical pieties; and a basic goodwill toward those he critiques. And, like a character in Plato’s Gorgias, Welsh enters the dialectical fray ready to take on all comers, using every argumentative resource to strip away illusions, undermine objections, reveal essential facts, and make us face up to the truth. And that truth is this: 'democracy is about individual people and power, not about producing an always fıctitious common good or will of the people' (101). And from this truth follows the hard fact that those who champion such fıctitious entities actually undermine democracy because 'they direct our energies to the imaginary collective production of shared judgments and common futures, leaving everyone disappointed, fearful, or resentful' (108). Here is a bold statement that Welsh upholds with considerable skill and forcefulness, making his book a contribution to rhetorical scholarship that warrants attention, particularly from those he challenges. * Rhetoric & Public Affairs *Asserting the impossibility of public judgment, collective will, and the common good—notions underwriting most current theorists’ characterizations and celebrations of democracy—The Rhetorical Surface of Democracy builds an innovative conceptualization of rhetorical democracy that will undoubtedly spark spirited debate. Scott Welsh’s careful parsing of trends in democratic theory offers a complex discussion of the relationship between rhetoric, democracy, and power. [This book] provides readers new to democratic theory with a thorough and thoughtful engagement of foundational concepts, and it encourages readers well-versed in democratic theory to reevaluate taken-for-granted assumptions about the normative value of strategic rhetoric in democratic politics. -- Melanie Loehwing, Florida Atlantic UniversityScott Welsh makes a lively case for considering rhetoric in the service of democracy as the strategic pursuit of power through words and symbols rather than as a dialogical pursuit of practical wisdom. Welsh provides a realistic discounting of idealistic models of deliberative democracy and political rhetoric. In place of an illusive common good, he argues for a conception of democracy that entails an ongoing nonviolent competition for habitable space. Welsh’s argument is a welcome provocation to revise our working assumptions about democracy and its rhetorical enactment. -- Robert L. Ivie, Indiana UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction. The Cure for What Ails You Chapter 1. Taking Politics out of Rhetoric Chapter 2. Coming to Terms with Rhetoric Chapter 3. Democratic Ends Chapter 4. Truth Against Judgment Chapter 5. Between Rhetorical Reflection and Political Agency Conclusion. Democracy at the Edge of the Abyss

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Book SynopsisThe Teleological Discourse of Barack Obama, by Richard Leeman, provides an in-depth analysis of President Barack Obama's speeches and writings to explain the power of the 44th president''s speaking. This book argues that, from his earliest writings through his latest presidential speeches, Obama has described the world through a teleological lens. Teleology is the philosophy of discovering in the essential nature of humans or countries the telos, or ideal, towards which one should progress. Obama consistently portrays freedom and equality as essential to human nature and the American spirit. Understanding his discourse as teleological helps explain the inspirational and philosophical nature of his rhetoric, as well as his famous patience, perceiving progress where others become frustrated. Teleological discourse is ancient, with its roots in philosophies such as Aristotle''s Nicomachean Ethics and Christian theology, and its handprints evident in Lincoln''s Gettysburg Address. In order to discover the roots of Obama''s teleological perspective, Leeman also examines the speeches of presidents Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, as well as the civil rights discourse of Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, and W. E. B. Du Bois. Although the roots of his teleological discourse run deep, President Obama''s particular use of the philosophy is very modern. The Teleological Discourse of Barack Obama is an essential contribution to the study of American politics and political rhetoric.Watch the author discuss the book here.Trade ReviewMost Americans, regardless of their political persuasions, are captivated by President Barack Obama’s soaring rhetoric. Even when his rhetorical brilliance is the target of criticism, as it certainly has been, few can deny the powerful and dynamic effect of his speeches. Richard W. Leeman, in his insightful and in-depth work, The Teleological Discourse of Barack Obama, sets out to identify exactly what it is about Obama’s rhetoric that touches and inspires his listening audiences. In doing so, Leeman masterfully critiques not only Obama’s rhetorical style, but also his leadership qualities, his values, and his vision for the American polity. ... Taken as a whole, Leeman’s argument that Obama’s discourse, worldview, and character are teleological is both cogent and fully nuanced. Indeed, the book itself stands as a teleological ideal, striving toward an understanding of the essential nature of political rhetoric. * Presidential Studies Quarterly *Leeman presents a thoughtfully conceived, theoretically grounded, and analytically sound argument for understanding Barack Obama, fırst and foremost, as a teleological rhetor. His thorough explication of Obama’s books, campaign oratory, and presidential speeches stands as the most comprehensive examination of Obama’s rhetorical efforts to date and should be recognized as a defınitive text on the subject. Leeman’s work is an excellent continuation of the public address scholarship concerning telos, presidential oratory, national identity, anD American polity. Although a scholarly work, Leeman’s ability to write complexly, yet clearly and concisely, makes this book well worth the time of public address scholars, presidential historians, and any individuals who have an interest in the Obama presidency. Institutional libraries, as well as public libraries, would do well to make this text available to their patrons. * Rhetoric & Public Affairs *Richard Leeman has written a careful analysis of Barack Obama's rhetoric that provides important insights into the man, his values, and his vision for America. -- Craig Allen Smith, North Carolina State UniversityTable of ContentsChapter 1. Teleological Discourse Chapter 2. The Pre-Presidential Discourse of Barack Obama Chapter 3. The Presidential Discourse of Barack Obama Chapter 4. Presidential Rhetoric and Teleological Discourse Chapter 5. Teleological Discourse and the Rhetoric of Civil Rights Chapter 6. Barack Obama, Teleological Discourse and the American Polity

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Book SynopsisThis book was designed to make a contribution to our understanding of how and why people make the decisions they do at the polls. Coleman and Wu analyze a decade of research to examine how the mediaâs image presentation of political candidates influences voting at both the aggregate and individual level.Trade ReviewFrom the perspective that elections should involve the rational evaluation of candidates’ issue positions, campaigns and voters that focus on images and emotions are generally disdained. But Coleman and Wu argue that candidate images and voter emotions are central to the electoral process because they stimulate voters to evaluate candidates. Previous research in political communication has focused largely on the first level of agenda setting (addressing issues), but in this book, the authors analyze the second level of agenda setting (addressing affect). This work is unique in two ways. First, it focuses on the visuals of candidates, rather than their words, and assesses them as positive or negative. Second, it measures the positive and negative emotions candidates engender in voters. In doing so, it measures the impact that mediated affect has on elections. The authors use a multi-modal approach that uses experiments as well as surveys that vary across time and location. The result is an overwhelmingly persuasive argument that the candidate images broadcast by various news media play an important role in the public agenda during elections. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate, research, and professional collections. * CHOICE *Image and Emotion in Voter Decisions makes a great contribution in political communication scholarship, specifically the role of visual communication in politics—an area that is clearly understudied. To borrow David Weaver’s words, the volume is an important addition to the agenda-setting and voting literature in many ways. It draws its strength from three key aspects: (a) the strong emphasis on the role of visual content to provide evidence for the second-level agenda-setting effects; (b) the combination of various theories of information processing and media effects models to provide a stronger evidence of the influence of politicians’ images on voters during elections; and (c) use of comprehensive data from four presidential elections in the United States and one in Taiwan—making the volume fact-laden—hence providing useful insights on the topics of inquiry. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to a researcher seeking to gain useful knowledge of literature that documents the power of visual communication in politics. * Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly *"The book fills a gap in agenda setting literature, I highly recommend it."​ -- Guy J. Golan, Syracuse University“This is an important addition to the agenda-setting and voting literature in several respects. It brings various theories of information processing to bear on agenda-setting research, and it emphasizes the role of visual content in agenda-setting effects. It also analyzes the relative strength of first- and second-level agenda-setting effects on voting behavior in one Taiwanese and four U.S. presidential elections. As such, this program of work represents probably the only longitudinal effort so far to examine visuals for their second-level agenda setting effects.” -- David H. Weaver, Indiana UniversityBuilding on the cognitive approach prevalent in most political communication scholarship, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the role of visual information and emotion in news and its impact on voter decisions. It is a must-read for political communication researchers, educators, and professionals. -- Spiro Kiousis, University of FloridaTable of Contents1 The Importance of Image and Affect in Politics 2 Historical Traces and Relevant Concepts 3 The Role of Information Processing 4 The Methods Behind the Research: How We Did These Studies 5 The Two Levels of Agenda Setting: Issues and Attributes 6 Visual Cues in the Formation of Affect 7 The Valence of Affect: Accentuate the Negative or Put Your Best Foot Forward? 8 The Makeup of Affect: Emotions and Traits 9 New Media and Demographic Differences in Agenda Setting 10 An International Investigation of Affective Agendas 11 What We Now Know About Affect and Implications for Democracy

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Book SynopsisThe Rhetorical Surface of Democracy: How Deliberative Ideals Undermine Democratic Politics, by Scott Welsh, disputes the idea that democracy has anything to do with public deliberation in pursuit of collective judgment. Welsh argues, rather, that the impossibility of any kind of public judgment is the fact that democracy must face.Trade ReviewScott Welsh has written a terrific book. It is so rich that this short review must pass over many of the thorny, deliciously complex, issues he raises. Welsh’s guiding light is Kenneth Burke, whose work he appears to have memorized, and he manages to replicate Burke’s wide-ranging curiosity along with his refusal to accept prevailing pieties. ... Welsh does not shy away from the toughest questions and his meditations on them are always thought-provoking. He fully grasps the difficulties, even paradoxes, that are part and parcel of the democratic project. * Rhetoric Society Quarterly *Asserting the impossibility of public judgment, collective will, and the common good—notions underwriting most current theorists’ characterizations and celebrations of democracy—The Rhetorical Surface of Democracy builds an innovative conceptualization of rhetorical democracy that will undoubtedly spark spirited debate. Scott Welsh’s careful parsing of trends in democratic theory offers a complex discussion of the relationship between rhetoric, democracy, and power. [This book] provides readers new to democratic theory with a thorough and thoughtful engagement of foundational concepts, and it encourages readers well-versed in democratic theory to reevaluate taken-for-granted assumptions about the normative value of strategic rhetoric in democratic politics. -- Melanie Loehwing, Florida Atlantic UniversityScott Welsh makes a lively case for considering rhetoric in the service of democracy as the strategic pursuit of power through words and symbols rather than as a dialogical pursuit of practical wisdom. Welsh provides a realistic discounting of idealistic models of deliberative democracy and political rhetoric. In place of an illusive common good, he argues for a conception of democracy that entails an ongoing nonviolent competition for habitable space. Welsh’s argument is a welcome provocation to revise our working assumptions about democracy and its rhetorical enactment. -- Robert L. Ivie, Indiana UniversityAny rhetorician who has become too complacent with platitudes about “deliberative democracy” and the 'common good' should welcome Scott Welsh’s book, The Rhetorical Surface of Democracy: How Deliberative Ideals Undermine Democratic Politics, with the same sense of gratitude that Socrates expressed toward Callicles: 'I realize that a person who is going to put a soul to an adequate test to see whether it lives rightly or not must have three qualities, all of which you have: knowledge, goodwill, and frankness' (Plato, Gorgias, 487a). All three of these qualities are indeed present in Welsh’s book: a comprehensive knowledge of major philosophers and contemporary rhetorical theorists; a refreshing frankness and critical eye toward democratic and rhetorical pieties; and a basic goodwill toward those he critiques. And, like a character in Plato’s Gorgias, Welsh enters the dialectical fray ready to take on all comers, using every argumentative resource to strip away illusions, undermine objections, reveal essential facts, and make us face up to the truth. And that truth is this: 'democracy is about individual people and power, not about producing an always fıctitious common good or will of the people' (101). And from this truth follows the hard fact that those who champion such fıctitious entities actually undermine democracy because 'they direct our energies to the imaginary collective production of shared judgments and common futures, leaving everyone disappointed, fearful, or resentful' (108). Here is a bold statement that Welsh upholds with considerable skill and forcefulness, making his book a contribution to rhetorical scholarship that warrants attention, particularly from those he challenges. * Rhetoric & Public Affairs *Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Cure for What Ails You Chapter 1. Taking Politics out of Rhetoric Chapter 2. Coming to Terms with Rhetoric Chapter 3. Democratic Ends Chapter 4. Truth Against Judgment Chapter 5. Between Rhetorical Reflection and Political Agency Conclusion. Democracy at the Edge of the Abyss

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Book SynopsisTable of Contentschapter 1 The Stage is Set: The Hispanic Legacy, Spreading the Eagle's Wings, Mass Migration from Mexico Begins, Slump, Recovery, and World War II chapter 2 Newcomers from Many Lands: The Puerto Ricans, The Cubans, Strangers from Many Lands chapter 3 The Porous Frontier: The Borderlands, Immigration, Legal and Illegal chapter 4 Life in the United States: The Rise of New Hispanic Cultures, Hispanic Politics, Bilingual Education, Affirmative Action and Nationhood, Hispanics and the Church, Perils of Addiction, Crime and Punishment, Epilogue chapter 5 Notes chapter 6 Select Bibliography chapter 7 Index

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Book SynopsisPublic Speaking Basics provides a semester''s worth of information and exercises to help college students master public speaking. There is an emphasis on creating good thesis sentences and on using effective forms of outlining. A sample speech is provided with each of the six different speaking assignments.Table of ContentsChapter 1 1. Communicating in Public Chapter 2 2. Anxiety About Speaking Chapter 3 3. Delivering the Speech Chapter 4 4. Subject Selection and Audience Analysis Chapter 5 5. Creating a Main Idea Chapter 6 6. Motivational Appeals Chapter 7 7. Organizing and Outlining the Speech Chapter 8 8. Introductions & Conclusions Chapter 9 9. Supporting and Amplifying Your Ideas Chapter 10 10. Informative Speeches Chapter 11 11. Wording the Speech Chapter 12 12. Special Occasion Speeches Chapter 13 13. Listening Chapter 14 14. Persuasive Speeches

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Book SynopsisThis textbook provides concise information, classroom exercises, homework assignments, and speeches to enable college students to master public speaking. There is an emphasis on creating effective thesis sentences, motivational appeals, introductions and conclusions, outlines, and supporting information. The text includes sample speeches for each speaking assignment along with pertinent speech evaluation forms. Chapter topics include speech anxiety, delivery, subject selection and audience analysis, thesis sentences, motivational appeals, organizing and outlining, introduction and conclusion methods, supporting information, presentational aids, effective listening, Standard American English sounds, and creating various informative, persuasive, and special occasion speeches. A sample course syllabus is provided, as well as a test study guide. In this revised edition, some of the chapter exercises have been revamped, some sample speech outlines updated, some of the explanations clarified

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe book is at its best when it discusses the speeches and speechwriters of recent presidents, and the chapter on FDR is superb.... Those who seek a brief, generally well-written and easy read on some of America’s canonical presidents ... will find an enjoyable read in Presidents and Their Pens. * U.S. Studies Online *James Humes is a political triple threat: skilled strategist, gifted orator, and wonderful writer. Now, in his thirty-eighth manuscript, he draws on all three talents and explains the arts of both presidential speech writing and delivery. Presidents and Their Pens is a must for anyone involved in the political process and those who wish to comprise an informed citizenry. -- Michael Smerconish, SiriusXM radio host, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, and host of CNN’s SmerconishA page-turning history of famous ‘pens’ like Alexander Hamilton, John Quincy Adams, and playwright Robert Sherwood, along with less familiar names such as JFK’s Ted Sorensen and Nixon’s wordsmith Ray Price. -- John LeBoutillier, pundit and former Republican CongressmanHistorian James Humes is part of a special tradition, that rare family of writers who innately know the power of words and how to use them, especially on behalf of those who lead our country. Presidents and Their Pens merits high praise. -- Liz Trotta, author and Fox News contributorIn Presidents and Their Pens, James Humes intrigues and enthralls with never-before-told stories of U.S. presidents and their speechwriters. -- Warren Adler, authorTable of ContentsIntroduction by Julie Nixon Eisenhower Chapter One—George Washington’s Farewell Address Chapter Two—Thomas Jefferson—A Revolutionary Becomes a Reconciler Chapter Three—James Monroe Defines U.S. Foreign Policy Chapter Four—Andrew Jackson, American Folk Hero Chapter Five—Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Chapter Six—Grover Cleveland—A Light on a Dark Street Chapter Seven—Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Speech Chapter Eight—Pacifist Woodrow Wilson Declares War Chapter Nine—Warren Harding Revisited Chapter Ten—Calvin Coolidge, Philosopher from Vermont Chapter Eleven—FDR—Recovery in Peace and Victory in War Chapter Twelve—Harry Truman Extends America’s Promise Chapter Thirteen—President Eisenhower’s Prophesies Chapter Fourteen—John F. Kennedy—Symbol over Substance Chapter Fifteen—President Lyndon Johnson Declares His Dream for a Great Society Chapter Sixteen—Richard Nixon Mobilizes the Silent Majority Chapter Seventeen—Gerald Ford Shares Healing Words Chapter Eighteen—Jimmy Carter Delivers His “Malaise” Address Chapter Nineteen—Ronald Reagan Becomes the Champion of the Free World Chapter Twenty—George H.W. Bush Delivers His Kinder and Gentler Inaugural Chapter Twenty-One—Bill Clinton Manifests Communication Magic in Oklahoma Chapter Twenty-Two—The Second Bush Issue: An Historic Summons to the Free World Chapter Twenty-Three—Barack Obama, a Promising President? Bibliography

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Book Synopsis Now more than ever, librarians need good communication skills. They are no longer unseen collectors, classifiers, and cultural guardians. Information professionals are doing more public speaking at conferences, in meetings, classes, book talks and countless other situations, but many of them dislike, even fear, the thought of getting up in front of a group of people and giving a presentation. Librarians and other information professionals can find in this work help in overcoming their hesitation. Part one offers basic principles for better speech preparation and delivery, discussing such topics as the importance of good listening skills to being a good speaker, doing the necessary research beforehand, applying organizational skills to a presentation, engaging an audience, practicing a presentation before actually giving it, and putting oneself at ease, among others. Part Two discusses the specific situations in which librarians often have to communicate, including interv

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Book SynopsisPhilosopher Emmanuel Levinas's ethics as first philosophy explicates a human obligation and responsibility to and for the Other that is an unending and an imperfect commitment. In Levinas's Rhetorical Demand, Ronald C. Arnett underscores the profundity of Levinas's insights for communication ethics.

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Book SynopsisThe first English-language translation of a crucial medieval Arabic commentary on Aristotle’s Rhetoric, with context on its contribution to intellectual history.Trade Review “This translation lends fresh insight into an essential period in the medieval Arabic translation movement by demonstrating how Averroes’ critical perspectives emerged from and contributed to a cross-pollination of nationalism, intellectualism, orthodoxy, and faith. Ultimately, Lahcen El Yazghi Ezzaher helps us to read both Averroes and the Rhetoric with added complexity, recognizing a tradition of Arabic commentary that is rooted in surprisingly diverse religious and philosophical traditions."—Tarez Samra Graban, coeditor of Global Rhetorical Traditions “Ezzaher's translation illuminates the complicated network that sustained Aristotle’s influence, the ways in which ancient texts maintain their vitality, and about the dynamic interaction between rhetoric and culture."—Lois Agnew, author of Thomas De Quincey: British Rhetoric’s Romantic TurnTable of Contents Introduction 1. Life and Works of Averroes 2. The Commentary Tradition on Greek Logical Works Before Averroes 3. Averroes’s Fascination with Aristotle’s Philosophy and Logic 4. Aristotle’s Rhetoric in the Arabic Commentary Tradition 5. Averroes on Aristotle’s Rhetoric: Organization 6. After Averroes: Averroes in the Latin and Hebrew Traditions 7. Concluding Remarks 8. Note on the Translation The Text: Averroes’s Middle Commentary on Aristotle’s Rhetoric: Arabic-English Translation, with Notes and Introduction Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA testament to the enduring value of spoken communication for persons of all ages and walks of lifeTrade Review...meticulously researched and documented...among the most valuable purchases of the year for librarians, teachers, and media specialists, primarily because the documentation could be priceless for budget, program, and services planning at all age levels. * VOYA *While her theme is a constant - that information is valuable, but wisdom invaluable, and wisdom springs from story - each talk examines and illuminates this idea from a different perspective so there is little repetition or redundancy....The argument is well constructed, logically organizing history and current research in a dynamic writing style that frequently includes those all-important stories. In an age when technology is pervasive and can seem overwhelming, Spaulding's passionate and persuasive case for the importance of story is important reading. * School Library Journal *...presents written versions of nine talks meant to remind listeners of the importance of storytelling. They were developed for different audiences — academic, professional, parents, teachers — and so approach storytelling from a number of perspectives. * Reference and Research Book News *Table of ContentsChapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 1. Introduction: What Is the Wisdom in Storytelling? Chapter 3 2. The Importance of Story and Narrative Thinking Chapter 4 3. Story as a Way of Making Meaning and Building Community Chapter 5 4. Reading as Work, Story as Play Chapter 6 5. Imagining Information Chapter 7 6. Story Is Deeper Than Action Chapter 8 7. Virtual Reality of the Mind: Story Chapter 9 8. Ironworker or Ancient Miner: Tales That Must Be Told Chapter 10 9. Myth in an Age of Information Chapter 11 10. Conclusion: Story as Social Glue Chapter 12 Bibliography Chapter 13 About the Author

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Book SynopsisStorytelling is an art, as well as a skill. It allows the listener to take an idea and shape it into something that is relatable on a personal level. In The Art of Storytelling: Telling Truths Through Telling Stories, Amy E. Spaulding enables the reader to learn how to develop this skill, while also discovering the tradition of storytelling. Spaulding covers a wide array of important storytelling elements, from advice on choosing, learning, and presenting the stories to discussions on the importance of storytelling through human history and its continued significance today. This book includes an annotated list of stories, as well as a bibliography of collections and a brief list of recommendations for online sources. Designed for anyone who wants to develop the skill of telling stories, The Art of Storytelling is a resource for drama students, teachers, librarians, and for those learning on their own without a formal class setting.Trade ReviewSpaulding's passion for storytelling is evident as she shares the skills she has learned over the years. She repeatedly drives home the importance of traditional stories and the hard but rewarding work required to tell them well. She offers practical advice on selecting and learning stories, matching the story to the audience, and avoiding common performance pitfalls. Particularly valuable is an overview of the many story types paired with her extensive "Storiography."...The presentation is conversational, filled with personal insights, interesting quotes, and thorough documentation. Librarians building their storytelling collections and honing their skills will want this book. * School Library Journal *Books dealing with the art of storytelling are plentiful, but Spaulding's book on this topic is an exceptional one. Her division of the book into four parts--"Telling Truth, Telling Stories," "How to Become a Storyteller," "Why Bother Learning and Telling Stories?," and "Farewell"--is predictable, but the content really speaks to the reader. Based on her experiences as a storytelling and group work specialist for the New York Public Library System, Spaulding's sage advice includes potential stories for inclusion when developing a storytelling repertoire. Each chapter includes tips for beginning storytellers, as well as useful endnotes. Spaulding's unique voice and enthusiasm for her craft are evident throughout the book. Appendixes include an excellent storiography, as well as a useful story collection and webliography. The book would be excellent for a beginning storyteller, either as part of a course or as an independent study, as it is both practical and inspirational. * CHOICE *

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Book SynopsisPresents the US South as a pulsating rhetorical landscape, a place where words and symbols rooted in a deeply problematic past litter the ground and contaminate the soil. This provocative text focuses on predominantly white southern universities where Old South rhetoric still reverberates.Trade ReviewThe old saying goes that one can only be harmed by sticks and stones, not words. That has never been true, not even when issued as a playground taunt. Stephen M. Monroe's Heritage and Hate demonstrates the power of words, symbols, and narrative to harm, hide, and reveal truth. In clear, measured prose, Monroe shows readers how Confederate images and language contain layers of mythologies that obscure history and perpetuate the idea of white supremacy. This is a book that should be read not only by southerners but also by anyone interested in the ways we use language and symbols in American society to wield and maintain power." - W. Ralph Eubanks, author of Ever is a Long Time: A Journey into Mississippi's Dark Past"Heritage and Hate investigates the origins and contemporary uses of ‘a panoply of Old South words and symbols,' studying the cheers, university slogans, and online messages of students as well as the words and silences of university leaders. The volume's unique contribution is to analyze those words and symbols as rhetoric that, whether or not it is obvious, was and is always making arguments about power, race, and belonging." - Ted M. Ownby, William F. Winter Professor of History, University of Mississippi, and author of American Dreams in Mississippi: Consumers, Poverty, and Culture, 1830-1998Table of Contents List of Figures Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. "A Name So Beautiful and Appropriate": "Ole Miss" and the Ideology of Self-Identification from 1897 to 1971 Chapter 2. What Is a Hotty Toddy? From School Cheer to Racist Jeer Chapter 3. Minimization at Mizzou: Confederate Rhetoric and Interpretative Difference Chapter 4. Obfuscation at the University of Mississippi Chapter 5. Football, Flags, and Rhetorical Fury Chapter 6. Origins and Repercussions: The Continuum of Confederate Rhetoric Chapter 7. Reasons for Hope? Scholars of Language and a New South Rhetoric Epilogue Postscript Notes Bibliography Index

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