Presentation Zen
by Garr Reynolds · first published 2007
72% recommend28% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Practical guide to building simple, visual, bullet-point-free slides and delivering talks where the speaker, not the screen, is the focus; recommended for anyone who presents, including technical speakers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Provides lessons to help users design and deliver creative presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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By far the best book I've read on this stuff is Presentation Zen: http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Delivery-Editi...
on “5 Rules for More Effective Presentations | Michael Hyatt” ↗…Don't Make Me Think by Krug: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/032134... - Apartment Therapy by Gillingham-Ryan http://www.amazon.com/Apartment-Therapy-Eight-Step-Home-Cure... - Presentation Zen by Gar http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Design-Deliver... - Belisarius Saga by Flint and Drake http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalt... - Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗…presentation. People who present crappy PowerPoint decks would have no trouble delivering a similarly crappy speech, or writing an indecipherable memo. One great book on delivering awesome presentations - Presentation Zen (http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Delivery-Editi...)
on “Amazon Staff Meetings: “No Powerpoint”” ↗…is a great read and he brings up some really good topics. physcab talks about presentations as a good way to sell, and I admit, I agree. I just finished reading (and am still digesting) Garr Reynolds "Presentation Zen" (He also lives in Japan). This is a phenomenal book on some good ideas and tips on how to give a great presentation. Its a quick read, but his lessons are invaluable. I wish you well. Is there anyway…
on “What I've learned about selling (as a developer)” ↗Garr Reynolds has an excellent blog about giving great, bullet point free Presentations: http://www.presentationzen.com/ His book, Presentation Zen, comes highly recommended (not a referral link): http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Delivery-Editi...
on “Designing Presentations” ↗…presentation. Any real detail, data, background info, etc should be in a separate slide deck that you hand out or make available to download. One book you might find interesting (I know I sure did) is Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds [1]. Best of luck to you. I hope you have a great time [1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321525655/103-6148611-3957...
on “Ask HN: Help, I need to talk in front of a big audience & I'm scared, what now?” ↗If you're looking for even more depth on Powerpoint design, I highly recommend Nancy Duarte's slide:ology. All of these tips, more depth, plus the why for all of them. Presentation Zen Design from Garr Reynolds is another solid Powerpoint design guide.
on “How to make awesome diagrams for your slides” ↗…after the fact, just like a bullet shell casing is useless after you've fired the bullet. When you make something, make it with a singular purpose in mind and make it fulfill that purpose well. IIRC, Presentation Zen covered this fairly well; in fact, I'm pretty sure Garr Reynolds is where I got this notion to begin with.
on “Crap I'm speaking at [insert conference here]. How do I prepare?” ↗Buy the book Presentation Zen and read it. Build your slideshow based on advice in that book. Practice your talk, with a timer, both alone and with a friendly audience (my dogs will sometimes listen for upwards of five minutes if…
on “Ask HN: I am giving my first talk to 200 people at my job. Any tips?” ↗Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds - I like the process and form
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗& Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds.
on “Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read” ↗…talk from TED and he's flying all over the place the whole talk. Admittedly its not actually pacing. For those who do want to get better at public speaking (including me), I'd highly recommend the book "Presentation Zen."
on “Dear Speakers: things that interfere with getting a message across to an audience” ↗…that are interested in what you have to say. The distinction really matters, at least to me. 2. As others have noted. Don't drag your audience into PowerPoint Hell. At least look through the basics of "Presentation Zen". You need to be the focal point, not the screen. 3. Too late for you, but for anybody else with concerns about public speaking: you're going to need to do it sooner or later. Prepare now by joining…
on “Ask HN: Help, I need to talk in front of a big audience & I'm scared, what now?” ↗…Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company - Lovability: How to Build a Business That People Love and Be Happy Doing It - The Thank You Economy Personal - Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery - TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking - Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - How To Win Friends and Influence…
on “Ask HN: Is it normal to fall out of love with coding?” ↗I just spent the morning reading this book through O'Reilly's Safari access. It is absolutely brilliant and is up there with Presentation Zen and Slideology as 'must have' books if you're a speaker. Here's the thing though - despite Scott's best efforts, I don't think this book helps you if you're not already a speaker or somehow interested…
on “Why Speakers Earn $30,000 an Hour - Confessions of a Public Speaker” ↗