This is a tremendous book for upper level managers on the use (and misuse) of humor in the workplace. Kushner is informative and helpful without being silly. He treats his reader as an adult and although there are smiles and laughs aplenty throughout, he never forgets that his goal is to provide some workable techniques for using humor as a management tool to enhance both quality of life and quality of productivity. I bought it years ago and return to read it often.

Check this one out if you need a laugh. It's amazing. Even democrats can't help but laugh.

Although those with a passion for the 'fruit of the vine' will especially enjoy this book, it will definitely be valued by anyone who appreciates humor as dry and as crisp as an excellent chablis.

The quotes, jokes, and one liners are priceless -- unlike many a bottle of expensive wine. And Kushner's own running commentary reads like stand up comedy at its best.

Now that many of us are quietly eschewing French wines (that are not really better than many other wines but which did, until recently, possess a certain 'snob appeal') we may well wonder what to bring to the next party or get-together that will impress a hostess with our 'sophistication, worldiness and overall sense of 'cool.' This is the answer. Bring a copy of this book together with a bottle of Californian (or) Virginian (or) Spanish (or) Italian (or) Australian, (or) Chilean wine, and you will not only make a tremendous hit with the host or hostess, but by reading excerpts from the book aloud, you'll be assured that the party won't be dull.

First off, I just HATE the use of the word "Dummies" in this highly successful series of books. Dummy carries such a negative connotation! I am using this book as one of my resources in putting together curriculum for teaching people with disabilities how to be more effective at speaking in public, which in turn empowers them by giving the disabled a voice to be heard by politicians, policy-makers, service providers and others. Some of the content in this book is good, but because of the title, I keep the book hidden in a drawer in my desk. I don't want my clients seeing the book and thinking that "dummies" applies to them! Also, the emphasis on the book has to do with giving a speech, though there is a small chapter dealing with panel discussions and other situations. People perform public speaking in a variety of formats besides the "typical" stand at a podium and give a speech. Speaking up at a 12-Step meeting, speaking from the audience during a public hearing, and speaking as part of an organized "protest" or other public advocacy format are just three examples. The book's value lies in four chapters that cover organizing your material, building the speech, getting off on the right foot, and how to wrap up a speech. There are some topics there that can be generalized to any speaking situation, and those are useful. But, by and large, this book has been a bit of a letdown. If you are giving a formal speech before an organization, this would probably be helpful. The tips for dealing with panel discussions are also helpful. But for anyone who wants to participate in other public speaking situations, this book falls a bit short. It's helpful, but not thorough -- and, again, the title is just downright offensive...

I am new to this Public Speaking business! In my new position, I must make lots of presentations. Public Speaking for Dummies is a very helpful manual. Lots of good tips and suggestions. I also really liked the book called, Speech Communication Made Simple: A Multicultural Perspective. Both of these books have given me a lot of confidence when public speaking and have helped me to overcome much of my nervousness when speaking before groups.

I have been giving speeches for the past 16 years, and am well acquainted with the ropes. I was looking for a book that wouldn't just tell me "how not to be nervous" etc., but a book that would sharpen my speeches and make me a more polished speaker. Well, that's exactly what happened. I took Malcolm's ideas and started incorporating them into all my talks, classes, and speeches. It seems that overnight, I was being complimented more and more, and I myself feel that my speeches have much more "pizzaz" - but not only. They also are more well-built, educational, and get my points across fast. Malcolm Kushner's book is also very humorous. Perhaps sometimes the humor is just a little bit TOO much, but the easy, informative way he writes is a real treasure. Recommended!

The section on humor is very good, but if you want to improve your presentation skills, it's no point reading a big book, you have to practice to improve.

This book could have been more useful if it were more concise.

As a professional speaker, I found this book full of useful information. The author covers everything from how to be introduced to how to end your presentation effectively. He tells you how to involve your audience, how to use humor, how to design your presentation, and more. It's full of tips and examples. While it's true that the best way to improve your public speaking is to just do it, this book will shorten your learning curve by years!