Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

Product Author Bios

Garr Reynolds is an internationally acclaimed communications expert, and the creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net: presentationzen.com. A soughtafter speaker and consultant, his clients include many in the Fortune 500. A writer, designer, and musician, he currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. Garr is a former corporate trainer for Sumitomo Electric, and once worked in Cupertino, California as the Manager for Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple, Inc. A longtime student of the Zen arts and resident of Japan, he currently lives in Osaka where he is Director of Design Matters Japan.

Awards

Bookbuilders Award
Presentation Zen was honored for outstanding book design, production, and manufacturing at the 38th Annual Bookbuilders West Book Show and Awards Ceremony in January 2009. Awarded in the Professional trade category, Presentation Zen features an original book design by the author of the book, Garr Reynolds. Bookbuilders West, a nonprofit association founded in San Francisco in 1969, promotes and supports book publishing in the 13 Western states.

Presentation Zen was named to Amazon's Best of 2008 Business & Investing Books.

Presentation Zen earned the first "Scott Thinks It’s Hot!” award of 2008 from Scott Kelby.

Podcasts

Listen to our publisher's interview with author Garr Reynolds.

Presentations Roundtable - Episode 1: Design and Dead Trees
This premiere episode of the Presentations Roundtable Podcast brings together Presentation Zen's Garr Reynolds, Nancy Duarte of Duarte Design, Howard Cooperstein of Microsoft, and your host Ric Bretschneider. You are invited to listen in as we discuss the role of books in learning good design, preview both Garr and Nancy's efforts in this area, and drop some easy to follow hints on creating excellence in your own presentations.

FOREWORD BY GUY KAWASAKI

Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the Net — presentationzen.com — shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

Related Article

Creating Enchantment: An Interview with Guy Kawasaki

Links

Presentation Zen Photos flickr Group
This group is for people who have read Garr Reynolds' book, or really for anyone who gives presentations on a regular basis. We invite you to post images you've used in presentations, or even pictures you've taken that you think would be great for someone else to use.

Guy Kawasaki: Ten Questions With Garr Reynolds

Customer Reviews

295 of 304 people found the following review helpful This should be required reading for all presenters..., January 1, 2008 By  Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews             Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Paperback) This is everything that I want my presentations to be when I'm up on stage... Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds. This will make you rethink everything you've known (and likely done) about how a presentation should be designed. Contents: Introduction: Presenting in Today's World Preparation: Creativity, Limitations, and Constraints; Planning Analog; Crafting the Story Design: Simplicity - Why It Matters; Presentation Design - Principles and Techniques; Sample Slides Delivery: The Art of Being Completely Present; Connecting With an Audience The Next Step: The Journey Begins Photo Credits; Index There's so much good stuff here that it's hard to figure out where to begin. Reynolds advocates for a departure from the ordinary style of presentation involving PowerPoint. You've all sat through those (or given them)... Pages of slides, chock full of text, gratuitous use of special... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comments (3) 153 of 160 people found the following review helpful Useful but disappointing, February 26, 2008 By  Andrew C. Saks "Andy S." (Arlington, MA) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Paperback) I found Presentation Zen disappointing. It seemed to violate in writing style many of the principles it seeks to correct in slide design, reading more like a meandering conversation over drinks than a well-laid-out, step-by-step primer. For example, the book was frustratingly repetitive, with even the simplest points restated through multiple chapters (really, how many times do you have to suggest using post-it notes?). Some central points came and went quietly in sidebars, and others completely lacked explanation or justification (i.e. the rule for using six words maximum per slide). Every time I thought I was about to discover a new and enlightening concrete principle of visual design with valid reasoning, it seemed the point from the previous chapter was repeated instead. Moreover, exceptions or alternate approaches also weren't considered, such as times when using a whopping seven words on a slide might be useful, or when more complex slide builds and transitions could help an... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment 320 of 369 people found the following review helpful Lacking Gravitas, January 18, 2008 By  Frederic Woodbridge "Fred" (ID, USA) - See all my reviews       This review is from: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Paperback) Like many others, I have grown (very) weary of the so-called "death by PowerPoint" culture which saturates the IT sector in which I work. I would gladly substitute every minute of mindless suffering sitting through too many presentations by sales persons and various "engineers" with 150% more time at the Dentist's. Much as I hate visiting my Dentist, at least I'll be healthier afterwards. Also like many others, I wager, I found out about Presentation Zen the book from Presentation Zen the blog of which I am a fan. I am sorry to report that I am a bigger fan of the blog than I am of the book. First, the good. The book itself is pleasing with good binding and great color. It's easy to read with clear type and an attractive layout. Chapter heading and sub-headings are clear and the flow of the book's content is harmonious. The reader can tell that good quality work went into the typesetting and publishing--kudos to New Riders. How about content... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comments (11)

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Praise For Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

"Garr is a beacon of hope for frustrated audiences everywhere. His design philosophy and fundamental principles bring life to messages and can invigorate careers. His principles of simplicity are as much a journey of the soul as they are restraint of the mouse."
– Nancy Duarte, CEO, Duarte Design

"Presentation Zen is just fantastic. Best of all it's not another recipe book about "to make slides;" this is about re-imagining how your entire presentation will work together as a persuasive and integrated show, from conception through delivery. Awesome."
– Merlin Mann, 43folders.com

Online Sample Chapter

Make Presentations That People Will Remember