45 pages • 1 hour read
Carmine GalloTalk Like Ted: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds
Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Key Figures
Themes
Index of Terms
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaPart 2Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary: “Teach Me Something New”
Chapter 4 surrounds the issue of ensuring one’s presentation is fresh, either by using new information or presenting familiar information in a novel way. The human brain is inclined toward novelty and gravitates toward unfamiliar solutions to old problems. For this reason, a new or unique perspective stands a better chance of catching an audience’s attention. Even if people don’t have much interest in the topic, “As long as you relate your topic to the audience by teaching them something new they can use in their daily lives, you’ll hook them, too” (115).
Human beings are hardwired to learn. By presenting information in a novel and thrilling manner, a speaker can elevate the dopamine levels in the audience’s brains, tapping into their innate desire to learn. Dopamine’s highly addictive nature explains why encountering new information gives people an intense natural high. This chemical boost also aids in the retention of information. For his discussion on presentations using new information, Gallo uses deep-sea explorer Robert Ballard and director James Cameron as examples. In his TED Talk, Ballard presented the issue of how little humans have explored the Earth’s oceans compared to space, noting the information researchers have uncovered about the oceans’ alien landscapes. Cameron pushed to have Titanic (1997) made because he was fascinated with the shipwreck, which Ballard discovered, and wanted the opportunity to explore it for himself. Both leverage the curiosity of the audience to get their respective points across.
Even if the information isn’t new, the speaker can still present it in a way the audience doesn’t expect. In his TED Talk, Hans Rosling presented data on fertility rates using software he co-developed to present the dry data in an animated format to show its changes over time. Even audiences unfamiliar with a topic want to learn: “You’ll grab their attention if you can teach them just one thing they didn’t know before” (123). However, taking a new approach to a topic demands a creative mindset. A speaker should step out of their area of expertise to broaden their perspective and gain a better ability to view the world from different angles that might not have been considered before. Avoid relying on clichés and suggesting exhausted solutions. Because the audience is familiar with these points, they are more likely to disconnect from the words. Instead, to get the brain to see things differently, one must give it something it’s never seen before. Gallo warns against defeatist ideas that one has nothing new to add to. Instead, your experiences are unique; you should leverage that to give your perspective.
Finally, part of the reason TED Talks prove so popular is that humans crave brain stimulation. Referencing the Flynn Effect, he says the presentations cater to this need for stimulation in the modern world. The Flynn Effect observes that each generation’s IQ test scores were higher than those of the previous generation. The effect is universal, “not just in a few places but in all countries in which IQ data were available” (129). This means that audiences all over the world have an increased desire and ability to learn. However, the message one presents should still be straightforward. For best effect, one should be able to explain their ideas in 140 characters or less, the original length of a tweet. This requires tightening the concept until you can explain it concisely. It also makes it easier for the audience to understand the content because the brain processes the “bigger picture” before details.
In conclusion, one should strive to be new, give a twist to the already known, or offer a way to solve an existing problem that hasn’t been seen before. Speakers should also give themselves the ability to take innovative and creative approaches, as this leads to greater success.
Part 2, Chapter 5 Summary: “Deliver Jaw-Dropping Moments”
Chapter 5 focuses on creating shocks or surprises for your audience through “wow” moments. Utilizing these moments makes a heightened state of emotion in the audience, giving them a better chance of remembering your presentation and message after the fact. One example is Bill Gates’s TED Talk regarding poverty and child death. To underline his points regarding the number of people dying from Malaria every year, he released a jar of mosquitoes into the audience. While it took up only a tiny fraction of the presentation, the mosquito moment went viral and became what audiences remember best about the talk because it was unexpected.
The reader should also craft moments that stand out to the audience and demand attention. These are crucial because they create an “emotionally charged event” that persists in the audience’s memory by stimulating the amygdala. Not only does one tend to remember the moment itself better, but also the context surrounding the moment. Audiences also tend to be less distracted as a result. The brain is built to remember the vivid and emotionally charged while ignoring the mundane. This is true regardless of the importance of the material being presented: “Sometimes you need to surprise your audience in order to get them to care” (138). One example of maximizing this effect is Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor using a real human brain as a prop to create an “icky” presentation that stuck with and engaged her audience. On the other end of the spectrum, Steve Jobs’s launch presentations for the Macintosh and the iPhone surprised and delighted audiences. In all three presentations, Jobs went beyond where most others would and demonstrated the uses of all three products. He let the computer literally speak for itself to the audience and surprised them when he described three different devices (a touch-screen iPod, a mobile phone, and an internet communication device) before revealing they were all the same device.
To create a “wow” moment, the speaker doesn’t need to resort to the extravagant and can instead use something simple: Creativity, rather than showmanship, builds impact. Gallo provides a few methods used in TED Talks to create these moments:
- Props and Demos
- Unexpected and Shocking Statistics
- Pictures, Images, and Videos
- Memorable Headlines
- Personal stories
The idea is to use multiple senses, as this maximizes the effect. The interactivity boosts audience engagement through demonstrations or visual elements. Shocking or provocative information and quotes allow one to gain traction with audiences and on social media after the fact. Gallo notes that statistics require context to best land in a presentation. He also returns to his earlier points about the importance of incorporating personal stories. Finally, ending the presentation on a “high note” is crucial to ensure memorability.
Part 2, Chapter 6 Summary: “Lighten Up”
Chapter 6 covers the use of humor in presentations. Gallo states that a speaker mustn’t take themselves too seriously when they give talks. By using humor, the speaker appears likable and approachable to the audience, making them more willing to listen to what one has to say.
He uses Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on schooling and its negative effect on creativity as an example, noting that it is the most popular presentation in TED history. In just 18 minutes, Robinson’s unique approach captivated over 15 million viewers at the time of Talk Like TED’s publication. One of the main reasons for his success was his clever use of humor. Robinson crafted a presentation that made his audience laugh through storytelling and made them think deeply about how the American school system stifles creativity. An example of one of the anecdotes he shared was a young girl drawing of a picture of God and her witty response to her teacher’s skepticism. This blend of thought-provoking ideas and humor earned him a standing ovation.
Research conducted by Berkeley-based company NeuroFocus reveals that the brain is wired to better engage with and support content that incorporates humor. It also helps shape perceptions of others, including their friendliness and trustworthiness. Effectively using humor is a sought-after social skill and has value in personal and business settings and on the stage.
Using humor in Richardson’s talk worked better than presenting the content alone. However, humor needs to be incorporated naturally: “You don’t have to be funny to be humorous. You just have to be willing to do your homework to make your presentation entertaining” (167). Using humor appropriately and avoiding excessive or offensive jokes that undermine the intended message is critical. One should avoid using actual jokes altogether, as they only work for professional comedians. Gallo instead gives five suggestions for other ways to incorporate humor:
- Anecdotes, Observations, and Personal Stories
- Analogies and Metaphors
- Quotes
- Video
- Photos
Well-placed, relevant, and humorous observations are a powerful tool, and they work best for presentations focused on business. They work to win over the audience and create a sense of endearment toward the speaker. Analogies and metaphors are also effective in both stimulating laughter and facilitating understanding of complex topics. By drawing similarities between disparate things, speakers can create a humorous impact. Quotes are another source of humor in presentations, providing a break in the flow and adding a creative element. It is advisable to choose quotes that lighten the mood and make the topic less daunting while avoiding clichéd ones. Personal quotes, or those from less-known individuals that captured your attention, can be particularly effective. While Gallo notes videos are not common in presentations, they can be an excellent way to leverage humor and alleviate the pressure on the speaker to be funny in the moment. Including humorous photos can provide context and make complex topics easier to understand and engage. Even if humor doesn’t come naturally to you, or if you aim for a smile rather than a laugh, each technique offers a way to achieve the desired effect.
Gallo concludes that humor always involves risk, so many presenters opt not to use it. However, provided you remain authentic, it is usually a good idea to incorporate it into your presentations. Humor also has the benefit of making you feel good, which leads to better delivery.
Part 2 Analysis
The “Novel” section of Talk Like TED highlights critical strategies for impactful presentations through the importance of freshness and unique perspectives, using surprising elements to engage emotions and improve memorability, and using humor to enhance audience engagement and speaker approachability. It builds on the concepts Gallo introduced in the book’s first section, where he established how to build an emotional connection with the audience on a fundamental level by highlighting Passion in Effective Public Speaking and The Importance of Being Genuine. Here, he delves deeper into the types of things the speaker should focus on in the content of the presentation. They should aim for an approach that the audience has never seen before.
Chapter 4 serves as the jumping-off point for this section and focuses on the novel in presentations as its core theme. Keeping a presentation fresh and engaging for the audience is essential. The human brain naturally seeks novelty and is drawn to new perspectives and ideas, so finding new ways of keeping an audience’s attention is vital. Gallo’s suggestions for the different forms of presenting information in new and different manners return to the tips used in many other chapters. For example, he highlights a story from his experience working as a communications coach in the business world about a presentation by a senior vice president at SanDisk who presented his data on high-capacity storage cards using personal stories and his digital photography. In this example, he references the tip from Chapter 2 on using personal stories to connect with the audience. He also uses a recommendation from Chapter 8 on incorporating multimedia elements into presentations. Focusing on the novel is critical to the idea of TED Talks themselves. Nothing similar to the format had been attempted before on that scale, and as a result, the conference and its speakers sparked audiences’ interest. The novelty of each talk only branches off of that concept.
Chapter 5 focuses on creating big moments of surprise or shock to engage the audience. Emotionally charged events such as these are necessary to stimulate the brain for the duration of the presentation, and keeping the audience engaged is required for a successful presentation. A bored audience will not remember what the speaker had to say and will have a poor opinion of the speaker. The examples he gives for effective surprises cover both ends of the emotional spectrum. The demonstrations by Steve Jobs delight and amaze the audience, while Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s audience reacted with shock and disgust. How both of these examples were achieved ties into Gallo’s tips from the other chapters again. The speakers used props and demonstrations to make their respective points. Interactivity here and in Chapter 8 is critical to Gallo’s discussions on the memorability of presentations. That is because, based on the points raised in the previous chapter, humans are drawn to the new and different. Surprise or shock is, by definition, something out of the norm that stands out in the audience’s minds.
Chapter 6 covers the use of humor in presentations. A point that Gallo repeatedly stresses throughout the chapter is that he does not necessarily mean telling jokes. He advises against using jokes altogether due to the amount of practice required to make them work. While he advocates throughout the text for practice on the speaker’s part to make the presentation as natural as possible, without the proper knowledge of how they are structured and function, the speaker runs the risk of undoing all of that work. Instead, they should build on the conversational tone they are cultivating based on his tips from Chapter 3 and approach the subject of humor from this perspective. They should use humor in the way they would when talking to a friend. This ingratiates them to the audience and establishes a better emotional connection; due to the vast number of dry presentations the audience members have likely witnessed, the incorporation of humor into one speech is a novelty. It is unexpected and, therefore, memorable.
The adoption of humor is a technique that Gallo uses throughout the book. The tone that he strikes is both conversational and witty. He takes the time to make asides to the reader in between his actual tips for public speaking skills. For example, he uses some dry humor regarding an unfunny joke in the part of the chapter where he explains why the reader should not incorporate actual jokes into their speech.
