Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Pin Drop Principle


A Book Review of The Pin Drop Principle by David Lewis and G. Riley Mills

 A guest blog post by Bernadette Davis, aspiring author.

Imagine standing in front of a group of people and having the ability to captivate their attention such that a pin drop breaks the silence of the attentive listeners. Upon reading The Pin Drop Principle - Captivate, influence, and Communicate Better Using the Time-Tested methods of professional Performers by David Lewis and G. Riley Mills, this dream can become reality. 

The book’s name comes from the idea that if you effectively utilize the suggestions offered throughout the chapters, you will be able to have such command over a group of listeners that you can hear a pin drop. Is this theory truly possible? So many people can speak eloquently, but they may lack that vital spark needed to hold an audience’s interest completely. In an audience of people, there is always that select group of people that have let their mind roam elsewhere. People have constantly analyzed poor speaking habits and decided that well-worded prose is only a component to charming listeners. Even John Locke discusses reasons why people fail to communicate effectively in his Essay On Human Understanding. However, only rarely do writers and philosophers such as Locke offer valuable solutions. Lewis and Mills present their own well-organized, highly educational method that answers the question: how can I become more compelling and engaging in my communication? 

This book is not your typical self-help book. The Pin Drop Principle radiates tips on how you can improve your communication skills through a unique and unexpected lens. It inspires you to hone your communicating techniques as professional actors have done for centuries. Drawing from their experience in acting, they explain how and when to employ performance techniques to put passion and purpose behind your words. The book also has a myriad of exercises that reinforce the tips that it teaches.

I think that the one fault among many strengths in this book is that there are too many examples. After the second example, I have a clear understanding of what the author explains. Offering five examples and explanations is excessive. I felt that the extra time that it took me to read all of the extra examples and explanations took away from the time that I could be out practicing my effective communication. However, this does not take away from the overall message of the book. I highly recommend it to anyone who looks to add excellent communication to his or her list of skills and assets.

The Pin Drop Principle is not just for someone who is looking to pursue a career in public speaking. This book is a must buy for anyone who is looking to improve his or her communication. This book empowers you to effectively convey the message you desire your audience to receive so the audience responds to this message as you want. This audience can vary from a stadium full of people, a classroom full of college students, and your ten-year-old son. Any person wishing to communicate better can use the techniques brought forth in The Pin Drop Principle. 

I challenge you to read this book and connect better with your listeners!

1 Comments:

At 11:19 PM, Anonymous Jeff Whittle said...

Thanks for the review. I hadn't before tied together the concepts of public speaking and traditional acting. Shame on me.

 

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