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The seventh instalment in a nzherald.co.nz summer business series about the reading habits of a selection of our prominent businesspeople.
Most people can remember a good speech they've heard -- and they can also remember an appalling one.
While Stuart Nash wasn't in the later category, he knew he had room for improvement.
Nash said he picked up Speak Easy on recommendation, but knew the author Maggie Eyre through her work with Helen Clark in 1993 when Clark was polling around 3 per cent as preferred prime minister.
Even now, the prime minister isn't a brilliant public speaker, said Nash, but she is out-of-sight compared to how she was and a lot of it has to do with Eyre.
Nash said many people are terrified of public speaking and it's often an overlooked part of their work.
"We all communicate, from the person who's on reception when people come through the door, through to the CEO who has to deliver your vision, your mission and your strategies. So really, it's a book that should be compulsory," said Nash.
He has put some of the "pearls of wisdom" contained in Speak Easy into practice, including doing away with speech notes.
In the past Nash was a public speaker who relied on typed-up notes, but doesn't use them at all now unless quoting someone, he said.
"The first couple of times it was pretty hard, but you realise you know your stuff anyway and you can get by without them."
Nash said Speak Easy is an easy-to-read book that could be taken to the beach and read in between putting sausages on the bbq.
Nash planned to bury himself in The Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk over the holiday break.
"I love history and even though I don't always necessarily agree with his [Fisk's] philosophy there's no denying the man's credibility."
* Stuart Nash is director of strategic development at Auckland University of Technology. Before going to AUT, Nash worked in international business strategy and development for Fletchers and Carter Holt Harvey. The great grandson of former Labour finance minister and prime minister Walter Nash, he contested the Epsom seat for Labout at the last election.
Recommends: Speak Easy -- The Essential Guide to Speaking in Public. By Maggie Eyre.
