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Say It Well
A review of

Say It Well

Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience

Terry Szuplat • Ebury Press • 2024
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Your Voice Matters, So Use It

by Patricia Sanders

Terry Szuplat, one of President Obama’s top speechwriters, once struggled to speak up. Now he’s sharing the lessons that helped him find his voice — so you can find yours, too.

If you’ve ever felt nervous about giving a presentation, making a toast, or telling an anecdote at a party, you’re in good company: The fear of public speaking is one of the most prevalent phobias. But you must strive to overcome it because, according to renowned speechwriter Terry Szuplat, public speaking is a vital skill: It can help you engage more fully in opportunities, raise your profile, tell your story, and entertain, engage, inform, and inspire others.

Szuplat knows just how hard public speaking can be. Despite being an accomplished speechwriter — he wrote speeches for Barack Obama throughout Obama’s eight-year presidency — Szuplat found it difficult to speak for himself, even at low-key social events. He began to notice the cost — missed chances for professional advancement, less enjoyment in social gatherings, and a feeling of playing it too safe.

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    r. A. 7 months ago
    Your Voice Matters, Use It by Patricia Sanders is like a big ol' pep talk in book form, buddy! It's all about this guy Terry Szuplat, who used to write speeches for none other than President Obama, right? And get this, at some point in his life, he was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs about using his own voice. But he turns it all around and becomes this big-time advisor.

    What's cool about this book is that it's like a buddy telling you a story while also giving you some solid advice. It's not just about Szuplat; it's for anyone who's ever felt too shy to speak up, whether you're in school, at work, or just trying to make a difference in your neighborhood. Sanders does this cool thing where she mixes his story with stuff everyone can learn from, so you don't feel like you're getting lectured at.


    The advice she gives isn't like those bossy self-help books that tell you exactly what to do. It's more like she's sharing Terry's journey, and it makes you feel like you can do the same thing. It's like looking in the mirror and seeing that you can totally overcome your fears and stuff, too.

    And it's not just about talking loud. Oh no, it's about saying what you mean and making it count. Szuplat's experience writing for Obama shows how powerful words can be, especially when they come from the heart and aim to bring folks together and get things done.

    This book, Your Voice Matters; So Use It, is like a warm hug for anyone who thinks their voice isn't important. It's saying, "Hey, you matter, and you can totally make a difference if you just go for it!" It's something everyone should check out if they want to feel more confident about speaking up.