Oratory Sacred and Secular; Or, The Extemporaneous Speaker With Sketches of the Most Eminent Speakers of All Ages

"Oratory Sacred and Secular; Or, The Extemporaneous Speaker" by William Pittenger is a detailed guide about how to become a good public speaker, especially for those in the church, from the perspective of someone who struggled with it himself. This book highlights the skills and methods you need to give a great unplanned speech while making sure you're ready and always improving. It looks at famous speakers from the past and present, mixing helpful tips with stories to get you inspired. The book starts by explaining why it was written: to help people, particularly preachers, get better at speaking without a script. It thinks about the good and bad things about reading a speech versus speaking freely, but overall, it underlines knowing your stuff, caring about what you're saying, and truly getting what you're talking about as the secret to being a great speaker. The book suggests improving yourself is key to giving speeches, arguing that real speaking talent comes from getting ready and putting your heart into it.