Presentation Zen Design (the book)

The Presentation Zen Design book has been available from online retailers for about 5-6 weeks now, and the book is just now starting to show up on the shelves of book stores. A big note of gratitude and appreciation to those of you who purchased the book, especially those of you who took the time to write a review or write me a personal note. Thank you. It's been lovely to hear from so many people around the world. I realize money is tight these days, so the fact that you would spend cash on a book that I wrote and designed is quite humbling indeed. 本当にありがとうございます! The PZD book has a few more pages than the PZ book and focuses on basic graphic design principles and techniques that students and professionals can incorporate into their own work. The context is the design of slides, but the lessons can be applied to other forms of visual communication such as web design, etc. You can see the table of contents here on the Safari site, and a free chapter is available here on the publisher's website (under "sample content").


This is a pic of the covers as prepared in InDesign before going to print. Another endorsement from a remarkable cool cat will appear on the cover (above the title) in the 2nd printing of the book.

A lot of great people made wonderful contributions to the book including Stephen Few, Maureen Stone, John McWade, Scott Kelby, Nancy Duarte, and many others including the amazing pros at Peach Pit Press in Berkeley, California back in the USA. Below is a video message from my friend Nancy Duarte (who is busy at TED this week) singing the praises for the new PZD book (literally). This video appeared about a month ago on the Slideology blog.



PZD around the world
The Presentation Zen Design book has already been picked up for translation in eight languages other than English. The work on German, Korean, and Japanese versions is well underway. I'll let you know about other versions as details emerge.

You may ask why write books, especially traditional paper books? It's a good question. But this note I received from on Facebook from Julia Myslina in Russia speaks to why paper books still matter:

Dear Garr,
I've recently read Presentation Zen and would like to thank you for such a beautiful, inspiring and deep book. I used to read presentation zen blog from time to time, but the books in paper format always bring totally different experience, much more powerful. I'm very happy to know more and more like-minded people who bring beauty and meaning to this world. People like you. With big respect from snowy Russia. - Julia

The Naked Presenter
I've just begun work on another book for Peach Pit Press which focuses on delivery called The Naked Presenter. The key concept in delivery is naturalness and transparency. One of the key questions I will wrestle with is how we can best present with visuals and various forms of multimedia and yet do so in a visceral, human, and natural way that engages people both emotionally and intellectually. (Here's a post on the naked idea from five years ago.)

Arigatou!
Right, that's enough talking about my books. Now I can get back to doing what I love to do most, which is researching and sharing information with you for free on presentationzen.com. My life is going to change drastically in 3-4 weeks from now (in a good way I hope), but I vow to once again share as much information as I can on a regular basis. Thanks again for all of your help and support and doing your part to change the world in your own way. Your work is greatly appreciated.

Note: I am not attending TED in Long Beach this week so that I can be closer to home here in Japan, for reasons I think Nancy alludes to in her post on the book. Looking forward to an incredible TEDxTokyo in May, however.

Comments

[DaveScouller]

Another excellent book from Garr and a great follow-on from PZ. I enjoyed the book and looking fwd to trying to use some of the techniques and concepts in my future presentations... :-)

[twitter.com/jcukier]

we should be the ones to write thank you notes. I was happy to see OECD data in many of your examples! I wish someday OECD will use Presentation Zen principles just as much!

[mary anne]

Garr--
I am a teacher. I teach kids who have failed at reading for so long they shuffle through school hallways trying to be invisible. I stumbled on your work by complete accident looking to breathe new life into my teaching. I now take pictures in my classroom everyday and then transform lessons and powerpoint-aided explicit teaching using them. The difference is amazing! A change of font, a more visual approach, a "hey that's me!" It is working--at least for now!
Thanks--
mary anne

[garr]

Thanks, guys. Very nice to hear. Yes, I love OECD data -- lot's of useful stuff in there for sure. I am addicted ;-) -g

[Natalie]

Hi Garr:

Loved your sessions at Reboot last March. Just finishing the last chapter of PresentationZen Design. An amazing book - full of inspiration - not sure how you topped your first book - but you did!

Plan on buying many copies and sharing freely!

Cheers,

Natalie from Toronto

[Justin]

Congratulations, Garr! It is safe to say things will change drastically in 3-4 weeks. However, I think you will find all your notions of simplifying things and being mindful of the present will serve you well in your new role. Just remember–Sleep is overrated; Even though you will want to, don't actually catch the puke; and, the most important thing you can tell your child is "I'm sorry."

Love your books, looking forward to the next one.

[R. L. Howser]

As much as I agree with the movement to use PowerPoint effectively, as you've been advocating in this blog and your book, I also try to present naked as often as possible. I just think it can be so much more powerful, in some situations, to be the sole focus of the audience's attention. That's the main topic of my own blog, (shameless plug - www.presentationdynamics.org).

I think there is more to it, though, than just naturalness and transparency. There's an art to speaking and moving in a way that grabs and holds people's attention. It's the reason some actors jump off the screen at you, and others fade into the background.

[Alexfcc]

This book makes "Design is the job of designers" an excuse to other professions and academic people. Hey we can do design! Big THANK to your book and looking forward for The Naked Presenter!

[Laurie Bartels]

Hi Garr,
Have been an avid reader of this blog for quite awhile, and found PZ a beautifully crafted book packed with useful information. PZD is equally appreciated, and is the book I've been waiting for! It is a design class for those of us needing and wanting guidance.

I teach kids about/with computers, and recently covered the art of slide presentations with our entire 6th grade. PZ informed our sessions, and I am now planning a class on Presentation Communication for which PZD will be our guide.

Thank you for sharing your passion and making it so accessible. Like others, I eagerly anticipate The Naked Presenter.

All the best to you and your wife in the next few weeks! Enjoy all the poops, sleepless nights, etc – they grow up so fast!

Regards, Laurie

[Bruce Couch]

Garr: so glad that your book is finally out!
Nancy D: so glad you have a day job and are very good at it! ;o)

[paurullan]

I bought it a couples of weeks ago from Amazon and waiting to read it. Congratulations to you!
Sincerely from Majorca, Spain.

[Rahul]

I loved your first book and have ordered your second one.

I'm a emergency physician and teach medical students. Much of our knowledge is transmitted through presentations and medicine is plagued with bad ones. It doesn't convey information well, which is at best inefficient and at worst dangerous.

Medical presentations tend to try to convey a lot of information. That's their role. Simplifying the information isn't always an option. This is how students learn about recognizing a disease, why it happens, its complications, and how to treat it. How should I teach students to present this more effectively?

Right now I'm having them incorporate stories, get rid of all bullet points and rehearse-rehearse-rehearse. I'm using pecha kucha as an exercise.

I would like to break this cycle of horrid presentations endemic to our discipline. Any ideas from anyone?

Thanks, Rahul

[David Mann]

Congratulations on the book (the copy sold in Buffalo NY a few weeks ago was me!), and congratulations and good luck to you and your wife.

I want to thank you for this blog, which I stumbled upon a few years ago quite accidentally. It has lead me to read many books about design, presentations, to TED Talks, posterous,...in short, your blog opened me to a whole world I would not known existed.

All of this has allowed me to do a better job, and I've had a lot fun too. Never underestimate the influence you've had by sharing your passion on this blog.

[Bill Ruesch]

Congratulations on your book. As an author you might be interested in a group forming on the Internet called The Red Hen Association of Self-Publishing Authors, Inc http://redhenassociation.com.

As a public speaker you might want to check out a blog post I wrote called "Lousy Public Speakers Sell Fewer Books." http://wp.me/pFDsI-9Z

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yippee. yippee. yippee. I was worried but then exalted. PZ was wonderful but it just got me started. PZD is most definitely going deeper and without pain. Cannot wait for PN. You changed things for me. I am an artist who has been looking for a new way to engage people on stories that matter to me. I have the projector. I have the images and the text. I needed affirmation and structure. Many Thanks.

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