How do you pack a 95K word (nonfiction) book into a 40 minute talk?
How many words are in 40 minutes? My estimate is 4-5K. That's ~20-fold compression. Something like half of 1 (of 10) chapters in the book.
Obviously you don't just read off the first half of the first chapter. But an outline of all of it is also super unsatisfying; it needs more depth than that. Clearly you present the central thesis and why it matters. But what to support it? This is a problem I've never encountered before. Not yet sure how to wrap my head around it.
@NicoleCRust I think I'd take just one "case study" or example that makes the point of the whole book if possible, and go narratively through that example keeping only the essential parts of the argument. If after that I noticed there is still time, I might add a second one, or more likely talk about something that is not in the book: some behind the scenes, stuff that didn't make the cut, how did I decide to write about this, what are the reactions to the book so far, any interviews
@NicoleCRust as a potential/likely reader of such a book, I think it would be fair to cite the book as your reference for detailed supporting arguments. I assume part of the point is to convince people to read the book, after all. So it's fair to elide detail and say "the justification is covered in chapter 7" or whatever it is. As for the structure of the talk is it for an academic audience or more mixed/general? That should shape the approach, the latter calling for metaphor & narrative.
@mrcompletely
Helpful - thank you! It will be a long while before the book is out; this stage is more of pre-talk. But absolutely; it's frustrating to hear something and have no way to follow it up. I'll ponder that.
@NicoleCRust in that case maybe focus on the audience. For a technical audience you need to establish bona fides and speak precisely, so maybe narrow the focus somehow; pick one aspect and do a good job on that, perhaps? And let that act as a teaser to interest them in the whole.
For a general audience, focus on the larger meaning - what is the core thesis you want them to recall? - and support it with memorable stories/metaphors/images without worrying about supporting logic too much.
@NicoleCRust
Pick by your audience - give a nod to the things you cant cover and do detail on the things your audience would care about. In your talk leave them with lil pointers like "this is in chapter x if you want more on that." Dont feel like you have to give a summary of the book or follow its order or structure, your talk is a new narrative based on the book :)
@NicoleCRust pick one coherent thread that goes through that hits the central thesis and a bit more. Choose the thread by thinking about what you want listeners to do after? Read the book? Take some action? Tailor to that. Not sure if that's obvious but that would be first approach.
@NicoleCRust Don't try to represent the entire book. Choose at most five key points you'd like people to remember. Set each up with an anecdote/example, and explain what they have to do with your key premise.
Add comment