Presentation Resource List (from Presentation Pitfalls)

I recently read “Presentation Pitfalls” by John Polk and Justin Hunsaker. In addition to the superb presentation design content and slide design rational, it includes a very thorough resource section at the end. Three full pages of books and podcasts. Get the book – it is a great presentation resource! The compiled list is also a great resource. For online reference, here is the presentation resources listed:

Presentation Design

  • Altman, Rick. Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck and How You Can Make Them Better. Pleasanton, CA: Harvest Books, 2012.
  • Duarte, Nancy. Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2008.
  • Haims, Nolan. The Better Deck Deck.
  • Malamed, Connie. Visual Design Solutions: Principles and Creative Inspiration for Learning Professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2015.
  • Minto, Barbara. The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking, and Problem Solving. London: Minto International, 1996.
  • Reynolds, Garr. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2008.
  • Simon, Carmen. Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2016.
  • Simon, Carmen. Made You Look: How to Use Brain Science to Attract Attention and Persuade Others. New York: Random House, 2020.

Storytelling and Presentation Delivery

  • Abrahams, Matt. Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot. New York: Simon Element, 2023.
  • Chen, John. Engaging Virtual Meetings: Openers, Games, and Activities for Communication, Morale, and Trust. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2020.
  • Duarte, Nancy, and Patti Sanchez. Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols. New York: Portfolio, 2016.
  • Gibson, Glenn. Before the Mic: How to Compose Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational Presentations. Victoria, BC: Self-published, 2019.
  • Halpern, Belle Linda, and Kathy Lubar. Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate, and Inspire. New York: Gotham Books, 2004.
  • Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. New York: Random House, 2007.
  • Pollard, Tim. The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of Exceptional Presentation Design. Lafayette, CO: Oratium, 2016.
  • Whittaker, James. The Storyteller’s Spellbook: How to Make Your Ideas More Compelling and Your Career More Magical. Self-published, 2017. Kindle edition.
  • Zimney, Sally. Speaking Story: Using the Magic of Storytelling to Make Your Mark, Pitch Your Ideas, and Ignite Meaningful Change. Minneapolis, MN: Two Harbors Press, 2017.

Data Visualization

  • Berinato, Scott. Good Charts: The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2016.
  • Duarte, Nancy. DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2019.
  • Evergreen, Stephanie D. H. Effective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2016.
  • Few, Stephen. Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten. Burlingame, CA: Analytics Press, 2012.
  • Knaflic, Cole Nussbaumer. Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2015.
  • Tufte, Edward R. Beautiful Evidence. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 2006.
  • Tufte, Edward R. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 1983.
  • Wong, Dona. The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics: The Dos and Don’ts of Presenting Data, Facts, and Figures. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.
  • Zelazny, Gene. Say It with Charts: The Executive’s Guide to Visual Communication. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Tool Usage

  • Bossé, Chantal. Microsoft PowerPoint Best Practices, Tips, and Techniques: An Indispensable Guide to Mastering PowerPoint’s Advanced Tools to Create Engaging Presentations. Birmingham, UK: Packt Publishing, 2023.
  • Hogan, Stephy. The Reluctant Designer’s Field Guide to PowerPoint. Self-published, 2022.
  • Parkinson, Mike. A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters. Alexandria, VA: ATD Press, 2018.
  • Terberg, Julie, and Echo Swinford. Building PowerPoint Templates v2. Self-published, 2021.

Communication Adjacent

  • The Arbinger Institute. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2000.
  • Covey, Stephen M. R. The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything. New York: Free Press, 2006.
  • Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. New York: Random House, 2012.
  • Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.
  • Martin, David. Free the Genius: How the Very Best Grow Their Meaning, Mission, and Contribution. Ignite Press: 2019.
  • Norman, Don A. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2013.

Podcasts