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Easy Speaking

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Other Books by Jeremy Carrad

‘EASY SPEAKING’ is written for all those millions of us, in whatever corner of the world we inhabit, who dislike – even dread – the thought of standing on our two hind legs and talking to an audience.  It is directed to every age group from the teenager seeking a university place or attending a job interview, through the masses of amateur officials of societies and groups, to business people enduring the agonies of presenting to others. 

The book is written in a light, friendly, humorous style.  It has a touch of the ‘For Dummies’ computer series of books about it and leans towards the Bill Bryson self-deprecating style.  The writing is designed to draw in and involve the reader,  providing a number of simple, fun exercises as the mystery of being an effective communicator unfolds and is simply resolved.   

The opening page of the book starkly reminds us of three indisputable facts that we, as communicators, have to face:

·     OUR CHARACTER AND ABILITY ARE INITIALLY JUDGED BY OTHERS ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY.

·     FEW TELL US TO OUR FACE HOW EFFECTIVE WE ARE – ALTHOUGH THEY DELIGHT IN TELLING EACH OTHER BEHIND OUR BACKS!

·     FEW OF US ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AS EFFEECTIVE COMMUNICATORS ARE…  WE CAN ONLY GUESS.

From here, with the help of a mythical family, the Jones’s, the chapters lead us through an examination of our AUDIENCES and OURSELVES.  Here we explore our strengths and weaknesses as communicators and how we appear and sound to others.

And through its style and teaching it is unique:  there’s never been anything like it before.  It’s a ‘must’ for pretty well everyone.


Jeremy Carrad led a varied life. Born in 1932, he grew up first in Sutton Coldfield and then in London. After enjoying his national service, he stayed on in the army for another 10 years, setting up a forces' radio network and making programmes for the troops. From 1962 to 1976 he was anchor of the BBC West news programme, Points West, before deciding he'd had enough of that and quitting to run communications courses for industry. Latterly he was a playwright and novelist.