Don't Say Um

January 1, 2025

Hoeppner, a public-speaking coach, developed the exercises and other activities in this book while assisting people who wanted to improve their communication skills. He aptly notes that amateur public speakers usually emphasize content over delivery. With a witty, accessible style, Hoeppner's book offers approaches to avoid delivery pitfalls such as talking too fast, rambling, adding filler words, poor enunciation, and avoiding eye contact. These issues, like bad habits, often accrue over time. Hoeppner stresses that communicating is like a sport that uses muscle memory and encourages the use of kinesthetic techniques to improve speaking. The exercises use a variety of practices to incorporate different learning styles, including Lego drills, finger walking, ball throwing, speaking with mouth impediments, breathing methods, stretching, warming up with tongue twisters, and much more. These practices will work for both in-person and virtual presentations. Hoeppner believes that readers should establish a communication regime by employing the exercises found in this book at least three times a week, if not daily. This book also includes QR codes with supplemental videos and a mobile app. VERDICT Hoeppner offers effective practices for improving communication skills, plus excellent advice on acknowledging nerves and managing anxiety about speaking.--Erica Swenson Danowitz

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