A veteran journalist discovers an ancient system of speech techniques for overcoming the fear of public speaking—and reveals how they can profoundly change our lives. In 2010, award-winning journalist John Bowe learned that his cousin Bill, a longtime extreme recluse living in his parents’ basement, had, at the age of fifty-nine, overcome a lifetime of shyness and isolation—and gotten happily married. Bill credited his turnaround to Toastmasters, the world's largest organization devoted to teaching the art of public speaking. Fascinated by the possibility that speech training could foster the kind of psychological well-being more commonly sought through psychiatric treatment, and intrigued by the notion that words can serve as medicine, Bowe set out to discover the origins of speech training—and to learn for himself how to speak better in public. From the birth of democracy in Ancient Greece until two centuries ago, education meant, in addition to reading and writing, years of learning specific, easily taught language techniques for interacting with others. Nowadays, absent such education, the average American speaks 16,000 to 20,000 words every day, but 74 percent of us suffer from speech anxiety. As he joins Toastmasters and learns, step-by-step, to successfully overcome his own speech anxiety, Bowe muses upon our record levels of loneliness, social isolation, and political divisiveness. What would it mean for Americans to learn once again the simple art of talking to one another? Bowe shows that learning to speak in public means more than giving a decent speech without nervousness (or a total meltdown). Learning to connect with others bestows upon us an enhanced sense of freedom, power, and belonging.

From the creator of the New York Times bestseller The Word Collector comes an empowering story about finding your voice, and using it to make the world a better place. The world needs your voice. If you have a brilliant idea... say something! If you see an injustice... say something!In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are... what you are thinking... and what you believe. And how you'll make it better. The time is now: SAY SOMETHING!

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO INDULGE IN DEF LEPPARD, THEN THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY FOR YOU! This book includes 37 chapters all about Def Leppard, featuring in-depth write-ups on the band's studio albums and select single releases **PLUS** never-before-told personal stories **AND** never-before-seen pictures! Includes: * IN-DEPTH write-ups spotlighting the band's original studio albums (plus the Retro Active compilation) and select single releases. This compendium is completely refreshed from the original versions that were written for The Lep Report. Also, a brand new, rare, from-the-inside look at the Vault greatest hits release ("Peeks Inside Vault's Vault & More")! * BRAND NEW write-ups spotlighting the Hysteria singles WOMEN, LOVE BITES, and ROCKET (And A Personal One At That!). * Numerous chapters featuring NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD personal stories (along with NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN pictures) from my time working at the band's record label in the mid-'90s, with some of my favorite memories and interactions involving the band. Chapters include "Stumping Sav," "Meet. Greet. Repeat.," "Poor Sav...And, Go Joe!," "Definitely Not A Wardrobe Malfunction," and much more! * Tribute chapters spotlighting JOE ELLIOTT ("The Ballad of Joe: Reflections & An Appreciation"), "MUTT" LANGE ("The Magical Mysteria Of "Mutt" Lange"), and STEVE CLARK ("A Tribute") * Song By Song: Ranking And Reviewing Def Leppard Songs Chapter Breakdown: Introduction: How It All Started Personal Story: Stumping Sav Personal Story: A Special Radio Request Album Spotlight: On Through The Night Album Spotlight: High 'n' Dry Album Spotlight: Pyromania Album Spotlight: Hysteria Steve Clark: A Tribute Album Spotlight: Adrenalize Album Spotlight: Retro Active Peeks Inside Vault's Vault & More! Album Spotlight: Slang Album Spotlight: Euphoria Album Spotlight: X Album Spotlight: Songs from the Sparkle Lounge Album Spotlight: Def Leppard Personal Story: If It Pleases You, It Pleases...Them Personal Story: An 'Ugly' Situation With A Concert On The Side Personal Story: Definitely Not a Wardrobe Malfunction Personal Story: Where Does Love Go When It Dies? Right Here! Single Spotlight: "Women" Single Spotlight: "Hysteria" Single Spotlight: "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Single Spotlight: "Love Bites" Single Spotlight (And A Personal One At That!): "Rocket" Single Spotlight: "Let's Get Rocked" Single Spotlight: "Make Love Like A Man" Single Spotlight: "Tonight" Single Spotlight: "Promises" Single Spotlight: "Long Long Way To Go" Single Spotlight: "Nine Lives" The Magical Mysteria Of "Mutt" Lange Personal Story: Poor Sav...And, Go Joe! Personal Story: And Now A Quick Break For The Scent Of Glitter Personal Story: The Ballad of Joe (Reflections & An Appreciation) Personal Story: Meet. Greet. Repeat. Song By Song: Ranking And Reviewing Def Leppard's Songs So rise up and gather round -- better yet, get really comfortable and get ready -- to indulge in A LOT of Def Leppard with this must-read, definitive book! From the creator of the Def Leppard fansite The Def Leppard Report (aka The Lep Report). ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

From the author of A Good Kind of Trouble, a Walter Dean Myers Honor Book, comes another unforgettable story about finding your voice—and finding your people. Perfect for fans of Sharon Draper, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds. Eleven-year-old Jenae doesn’t have any friends—and she’s just fine with that. She’s so good at being invisible in school, it’s almost like she has a superpower, like her idol, Astrid Dane. At home, Jenae has plenty of company, like her no-nonsense mama; her older brother, Malcolm, who is home from college after a basketball injury; and her beloved grandpa, Gee. Then a new student shows up at school—a boy named Aubrey with fiery red hair and a smile that won’t quit. Jenae can’t figure out why he keeps popping up everywhere she goes. The more she tries to push him away, the more he seems determined to be her friend. Despite herself, Jenae starts getting used to having him around. But when the two are paired up for a class debate about the proposed name change for their school, Jenae knows this new friendship has an expiration date. Aubrey is desperate to win and earn a coveted spot on the debate team. There’s just one problem: Jenae would do almost anything to avoid speaking up in front of an audience—including risking the first real friendship she’s ever had.

To the mixed girl who feels like she doesn't belong To the college student who feels stuck between childhood and adulthood To the person who feels like life has beaten them down one too many times This book is for you. I Have Something to Say is a collection of honest, insightful, and encouraging poetry that will leave you feeling understood in your current situation while inspiring you to rise above it. These are more than just poems - they are proud declarations of empowerment meant to awaken the champion inside of you. Whatever your voice may sound like, this book will leave you proclaiming to the world that you have something to say.

A sweet middle-grade novel by award-winning illustrator Angela Dominguez about a shy Mexican-American girl who makes a new friend.

Dainin Katagiri (1928–1990) was a central figure in the transmission of Zen in America. His first book, Returning to Silence, emphasized the need to return to our original, enlightened state of being, and became one of the classics of Zen in America. In You Have to Say Something, selections from his talks have been collected to address another key theme of Katagiri's teaching: that of bringing Zen insight to bear on our everyday experience. "To live life fully," Katagiri says, "means to take care of your life day by day, moment to moment, right here, right now." To do this, he teaches, we must plunge into our life completely, bringing to it the same wholeheartedness that is required in Zen meditation. When we approach life in this way, every activity—everything we do, everything we say—becomes an opportunity for manifesting our own innate wisdom. With extraordinary freshness and immediacy, Katagiri shows the reader how this wisdom not only enlivens our spiritual practice but can help make our life a rich, seamless whole.