Extempore Speech: How to Acquire and Practice It

"Extempore Speech: How to Acquire and Practice It" by William Pittenger is a manual from the late 1800s designed to help people become better speakers, especially when they have to speak without getting ready ahead of time. The author wants to show that anyone can learn to be a good speaker. He knows some may think speaking well is just something you're born with, but the author disagrees. He points out the things you need to learn and do to get good at speaking to a crowd, saying practice and knowing what you're doing can build confidence. He also suggests that the best way to talk to people is not to read a speech or just chat, but to find a middle ground, and he encourages readers to practice so they won't be scared to speak in public.