"Sharon Marcus nailed it. This is a book you buy several copies of: one for yourself, some for your friends (hoping they don't take it the wrong way), and one to slip discreetly under the office door of that guy who really, really needs to hear Marcus's message."-- Daniel Immerwahr, New York Times bestselling author of How to Hide an Empire "Sharon Marcus knows what it takes to give a good talk, and she comes straight at you with it. She is as clear as she wants you to be. Follow her advice. Her taste is great." --Steven Strogatz, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe " How to Give a Good Academic Talk is an enjoyable read. The writing is clean and engaging, the structure is logical and intuitive, and the frequent use of memorable metaphors, examples, and mini case studies makes it relevant, practical, and accessible to anyone in the sciences in addition to the humanities and social sciences.
"-- Brandon Ogbunu, Yale University "Academics spend much of our lives giving and listening to talks, but we know very little about what makes a good one. Sharon Marcus has filled that gap with a book that guides scholars across fields. Seasoned academics will buy this book for students but end up reading it themselves: there's something for everyone in Marcus's assurance that any scholar who cares about something can make an audience care, too."-- Leah Price, author of What We Talk About When We Talk About Books "Like a good academic talk, this book is sharp, incisive, well-paced, and engaging. Sharon Marcus offers wise and witty advice based on expert interviews and her experience attending hundreds of lectures in all disciplines. How to Give a Good Academic Talk is an indispensable guide for anyone wishing to communicate their ideas more effectively. It is also a generous take on academics and their rituals."-- Heather Love, author of Underdogs and Feeling Backward "Marcus demystifies several key elements of an academic talk including organization and structure, slide design, speaking and movement, rehearsing, Q&A, and more.
An early career scholar, or really any scholar--especially social scientists--will walk away with actionable tips and next steps to improve their presentations."-- Benjamin Noble, University of California, San Diego.