The official guide to TED talks offers tips, tools, and practical advice for conducting powerful and effective TED talks. Includes anecdotes from TED speakers including Elizabeth Gilbert, Salman Khan, Monica Lewinsky, and dozens of others.

Includes index.

Presentation literacy : the skill you can build -- Idea building : the gift in every great talk -- Common traps : four talk styles to avoid -- The throughline : what's your point? -- Connection : get personal -- Narration : the irresistible allure of stories -- Explanation : how to explain tough concepts -- Persuasion : reason can change minds forever -- Revelation : take my breath away! -- Visuals : those slides hurt! -- Scripting : to memorize or not to memorize? -- Run-throughs : wait, I need to rehearse? -- Open and close : what kind of impression would you like to make? -- Wardrobe : what should I wear? -- Mental prep : how do I control my nerves? -- Setup : lectern, confidence monitor, note cards, or (gulp) nothing? -- Voice and presence : give your words the life they deserve -- Format innovation : the promise (and peril) of full-spectrum talks -- Talk renaissance : the interconnectedness of knowledge -- Why this matters : the interconnectedness of people -- Your turn : the philosopher's secret.