The 5 Best Books for Improving Speaking Skills And Communication Plus Their Top Takeaways

The fear of public speaking is very real for many women, but you can overcome it. These 5 books for improving speaking skills will help you overcome anxiety and present confidently.

Mastering speaking skills is crucial in 2025. Whether you want to communicate clearly in remote meetings, deliver a pitch to potential investors, be a better leader, or simply communicate more cohesively so you get noticed at work.  

Here are the best communication and public speaking books with comprehensive summaries so you can put them into practice today.

Become a confident speaker who can clearly communicate their ideas today.

The 5 Best Books for Improving Speaking Skills

1. Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo 

Well-presented ideas have the power to change the world. You may have watched the top female motivational speakers, and wonder how they talk so effortlessly and deliver such strong messages. After studying thousands of TED talks, Carmine Gallo has synthesized his ideas into 9 pieces of actionable advice for you to follow. 

Here are the key Takeaways:

1. Gallo starts by revealing that the best speakers are passionate about their topics.

2. Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone. 

3. Speak naturally, as if you’re talking to a friend. 

4. Provide new information. Novel information stimulates curiosity and keeps listeners engaged.

5. TED Talks are capped at 18 minutes because this is the ideal length to maintain attention.

Ultimately, this book is a must-read for anyone preparing for presentations, pitches, or a meeting with a boss. 

Gallo says, “Ideas are the currency of the 21st century.”

Recommended Reading: Public Speaking 101: How to Create and Deliver an Award-winning Talk

2. Think Fast Talk Smart by Matt Abrahams

Have you ever been blindsided by a question at work or in an interview, felt your pulse quickening, the negative thoughts intruding, and you freeze? Spontaneous speaking is hard. This is one of the best books for improving your speaking skills as it offers effective strategies to think on the spot and communicate clearly. In this book, Matt Abrahams helps us in these crucial, uncomfortable moments. 

Here are 5 key Takeaways:

1. Overcome your anxiety 

Address both the symptoms and sources of your anxiety. 

Symptoms: Use techniques like breathing – take a slow inhale and a slower exhale.

Source: What are you afraid of? Being mindful and present-orientated takes us away from a perceived negative future outcome. Walk around the block, have a conversation with somebody, or listen to a song or playlist.

2. He introduces a “Think Fast, Talk Smart” Framework

 What—So What—Now What: First discuss the topic (what), then explain why it is useful (so what), and lastly, ask what you should do with this knowledge (now what). 

3. Connection over perfection 

Rather than aiming for perfection, as we might want to do in presentations, we should instead embrace connection and focus on how we might best engage in the moment.

4. Active Listening is Key

We are bad listeners and that affects our response. To truly connect with audiences and increase the likelihood of responding appropriately, we must fight distractions and listen to what and how they are saying something. 

5. Reframe your mindset 

Many of us see spontaneous speaking situations as scary and threatening. We feel as if we’re being judged and evaluated. If we see these situations as opportunities to connect and engage, our demeanour changes, we relax and are open to our audience and new ideas – which is always the goal.

Matt reminds us that, “Speaking is an opportunity rather than a challenge of threat.”

3. Presence by Amy Cuddy

A lot of how we present and communicate ideas depends on our presence, from job interviews to difficult conversations. Cuddy, is famous for her TED Talk on power poses, a confidence-building exercise for women, and talks about how we can live more boldly. Ultimately, Presence can liberate ourselves from fear in high-pressure moments, perform at our best, and connect with others. 

Here are 5 key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity drives your presence 

Feeling powerless makes us self-absorbed and defensive. Being open and authentic drives openness and engagement. 

2. Body language speaks volumes 

Adopting expansive, open postures can reduce stress hormones (cortisol) and increase confidence hormones (testosterone), helping you feel more powerful.

3. Fake it until you become it 

Small changes in behavior, such as standing tall or maintaining eye contact, can gradually shift your mindset and self-perception.

4. Focus on your core values 

Ground yourself by reflecting on what matters most to you before high-pressure situations.

5. Small Changes Lead to Big Results

Tiny adjustments in posture, tone, and mindset can have a significant impact on how you perform and connect with others.

Cuddy reminds us that “Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes.”

Recommended Reading: 20 Inspirational Podcasts for Women That Will Motivate And Empower You

4. Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

For managers and teachers — and anyone else who talks and expects someone to listen — Confessions of a Public Speaker provides an insider’s perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. This is one of the best books for improving speaking skills and can help you to present your ideas more meaningfully (which is what speaking is all about).

Here are 5 key Takeaways:

1. Public Speaking is a Skill, Not a Talent

Effective speaking is a learned skill that improves with practice and feedback.

2. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience ensures your message resonates and keeps their attention.

3. Embrace Mistakes

Mistakes are inevitable, but they don’t ruin your presentation unless you let them. Stay calm, acknowledge errors humorously or candidly, and move on. The audience often doesn’t notice small mistakes.

4. Preparation is Everything

Rehearse thoroughly to reduce anxiety and handle unforeseen challenges.

5. Connect with Your Audience

Build a connection through storytelling, humor, and authenticity.

Scott Berkun says, “Nothing teaches you to speak like speaking.”

5. Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston

Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, business consultant, and coach, author Mark Goulston combines his background with the latest scientific research to help you turn the “unreachable” people in their lives into customers, colleagues, and lifetime friends. The first step to becoming an excellent communicator and negotiator is listening. This is a great book for women who want to network make lasting connections.

Here are 5 key Takeaways:

1. Understand Before Being Understood

The key to effective communication is listening to understand, not to respond. By showing genuine curiosity and empathy, you can create trust and make others feel valued. Plus, you can figure out what they want and offer impactful solutions.

2. Create a Safe Space for Dialogue

People open up when they feel safe and unjudged. Use techniques like “mirroring” (reflecting someone’s emotions) and “empathetic statements” to show you understand their perspective.

3. The Power of Asking Questions

Defuse tension by acknowledging and validating emotions instead of dismissing them.

4. Handle Emotional Resistance

Thoughtful questions signal respect and encourage others to share more.

5. Practice the “Magic of Patience”

Effective communication often requires patience—resist the urge to jump in with advice or solutions. Give people space and time to fully express themselves so they can even discover their own answers. 

As Goulston says, “When you listen, you learn, but when you talk, you don’t learn anything new.”

Talk Your Way to The Top

Image credit: Acuddy by Steve Jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

There are so many invaluable insights in these books for improving speaking skills. Speaking is an everyday part of life, and you are already participating in this activity everyday – from coffee chats to big presentations. You can improve, because speaking is a skill.  The most common theme picked up throughout these brilliant books are: 

Authenticity is key to connection. 

Preparation is crucial, and 

Connection and calmness require presence and listening.

If you are an ambitious woman who wants to negotiate better, present more meaningfully, or build better work relationships, pick up one of these books for improving your speaking skills and start using their techniques today. 

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