No Future in This Country: The Prophetic Pessimism of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner is a history of the career of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner (1834-1915), specifically focusing on his work from 1896 to 1915. Drawing on the copious amount of material from Turner's speeches, editorial, and open and private letters, Andre E. Johnson tells a story of how Turner provided rhetorical leadership during a period in which America defaulted on many of the rights and privileges gained for African Americans during Reconstruction. Unlike many of his contemporaries during this period, Turner did not opt to proclaim an optimistic view of race relations. Instead, Johnson argues that Turner adopted a prophetic persona of a pessimistic prophet who not only spoke truth to power but, in so doing, also challenged and pushed African Americans to believe in themselves. At this time in his life, Turner had no confidence in American institutions or that the American people would live up to the promises outlined in their sacred documents. While he argued that emigration was the only way for African Americans to retain their ""personhood"" status, he also would come to believe that African Americans would never emigrate to Africa. He argued that many African Americans were so oppressed and so stripped of agency because they were surrounded by continued negative assessments of their personhood that belief in emigration was not possible. Turner's position limited his rhetorical options, but by adopting a pessimistic prophetic voice that bore witness to the atrocities African Americans faced, Turner found space for his oratory, which reflected itself within the lament tradition of prophecy.

Balancing skills and theory, this introductory public speaking textbook encourages the reader to see public speaking as a way to build community in today's diverse world. Within a framework that emphasizes speaker responsibility, listening, and cultural awareness, this classic book uses examples from college, workplace, political, and social communication to make the study of public speaking relevant, contemporary, and exciting. This new edition includes expanded coverage of mediated speaking with examples from podcasts and online speaking contexts; discussion of ethical issues of contemporary public discourse, including disinformation and public civility; and tips for extemporaneous speaking. This textbook is ideal for general courses on public speaking as well as specialized programs in business, management, political communication, and public affairs. A companion website including an instructor's manual containing discussion questions, exercises, quiz questions, and suggestions for syllabus design is available at www.routledge.com/cw/german.

Leading Your Audience: A Systematic Approach to Public Speaking is designed to prepare students to lead as public speakers in the classroom and beyond. The text increases readers' understanding of the principles and processes of communicating effectively in public situations. As students participate in the process, they become proficient in basic speaking skills, while increasing their confidence successfully in a variety of contexts. Over the course of 11 chapters, students are presented with material compiled in a strategic order to maximize time and learning during the academic term. They learn incrementally while they practice, build proficiency, and complete speech assignments in each chapter. Written in a conversational tone to reduce stress, students navigate through simplified formulas and lists that contain clear and concise content that is cross-referenced throughout the text. The third edition features more timely and detailed examples, practical explanations, and fresh sources. Material on evaluating types of sources for reliability, detecting misinformation and disinformation, the impacts of technology, understanding audience diversity, digital audience considerations, group collaboration, and more has been expanded or added. Extensively class tested, Leading Your Audience is an ideal textbook for foundational or advanced courses in public speaking both in person and online.

Across national and cultural borders, the archetype of the fool has played a significant role in how communities interpret and ascribe identity. As Charles Campbell and Johan Cilliers remind us, the Christian preacher, tasked with delivering a paradoxical gospel, is a fool. In a delicate exploration with enlightening results, Preaching Fools uses a diverse representation of fools and foolish actions to show how modern preaching is inseparable from the folly of the cross. Campbell and Cilliers walk the fine line between the ugliness and beauty of the gospel and challenge readers toward a deeper engagement with its unsettling message.

Personal presence gives you the power to inspire, to influence, to excite, to question and to connect. We all have it within us. Yet many of us freeze or falter when speaking in public. As an actor on national TV and as a coach to high-performing professionals, Sarah Thurstan knows there are no set answers for how to give your best when you take the stage. It's a highly personal story for each of us. In this book, she guides you through how you can bring your natural self and your authentic voice to when you are speaking in public. In 15 chapters, she discusses how to master your fears, craft your message, share your stories, express your values and act when the spotlight is on you. These are skills which we can all learn and improve, whether as polished performers or as nervous beginners. We can always become a better version of ourselves when speaking in public and engaging our audiences.