When Jim O'Rourke first asked me to write this forward I was honored; then I began to work on it and I was stymied. Why did we need one more book on public speaking? What more can possibly be said on the subject that's not already been said? Yet, as I finished the book you are about to begin, I came to a 52nd truth about confident speaking: reading this brief book will improve your abilities here. Okay, reading and implementing what's contained here will improve your abilities.

Professor O'Rourke has codified in plain, straightforward, practical lessons the keys to confident speaking. Do not let this book's short chapters deceive you; his lessons may appear simple, but they are not easy. O'Rourke has packed a great deal of content into each chapter, honoring your time as a reader and getting to the point quickly. I never saw the first edition, but look forward to sharing this edition with my students, colleagues and clients.

In the decade since its first printing, some elements of confident speaking have gotten easier. Emulating good speakers (Truth 4) has never been easier with the proliferation of TED talks and YouTube playlists in virtually every field of study. While, simultaneously, the existence of smart phones within reach of every member of your audience makes keeping your audience interested (Truth 28) even harder to accomplish than ever before.

Yet all of the advances we've seen have not dimmed the need for this book. As we become more connected and more mobile, we continue to yearn all the more for leaders with whom we can connect, personally delivering messages we can embrace.

I believe each reader will draw different lessons from the 51 truths contained here; that's expected. We each have a different set of strengths and needs when it comes to presenting. As you read, I'd advise keeping a quick tally of which truths serve as reminders of skills you already possess and need to reinforce and which ones represent skills you know are weak for you and need to be shored up. Early in your preparation for a talk, you may want to focus on the “confounding truths” which vex you but then, closer to a talk, a quick review of your personal “confirming truths” may be just the ticket to nail that next presentation.