30/03/17: David Crystal – The Gift of the Gab: How Eloquence Works (2016)

A book about eloquence ought to be written eloquently, and this one is. Linguist David Crystal examines the topic in detail: what, exactly, makes a speaker "eloquent"? Why do some people have this gift, but not others? Is it even a gift, or is it a skill? Are we naturally eloquent in childhood and, if so, why does this ability fade as we grow older?

Although it's not described as such, the book is partly a guide to public speaking. From simple technical tips as obvious as checking how the microphone works to more profound observations about the fundamentals of how humans engage with each other, David Crystal offers practical suggestions that will improve the reader's oratory skills. But it's more than a functional how-to guide. He also looks at the great speeches by politicians and world leaders and assesses what made them effective. In particular, he analyses Barrack Obama's victory speech from 4th November 2008 and points out how successfully it broke certain rules while conforming to others.

He assesses everything from the musicality and rhythms of a speech, to the use of rising and falling volume and their effect on the listener. His friendly approach is highly accessible and often entertaining too.