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Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership
Shhh . Did you know there is a secret Language of a timeless set of cues and signals that still determines who reaches the top in politics and business today. The ancient Greeks were the first to study the art of communication 2,500 years ago. It is only now, with recent breakthroughs in neuroscience, that we can say for sure what works and how. In Winning Minds, top speechwriter Simon Lancaster blends ancient rhetoric and neuroscience to create the definitive guide to the Language of Leadership. With trust in business and political leaders at record lows, there's never been a better time for a fresh perspective on communication. Winning Minds is packed with insights into the effects of metaphors, stories, and sound bites on the brain. We know what the brain looks like on heroin. This book shows the brain on Branson, Obama, and Boris.
236 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2015
42 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Simon Lancaster
16 books25 followersSpeechwriter, Author, TEDx Speaker.
Simon Lancaster is the author of ‘Speechwriting: The Expert Guide’, ‘Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership’, 'You Are Not Human: How Words Kill' and the newly published ‘Connect! How to Inspire, Influence & Energise Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. Simon is the founder of Bespoke Speechwriting Services Ltd, a global speechwriting agency, and has written speeches for top politicians and the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world, including Unilever, HSBC and Intercontinental Hotels Group. He is an Executive Fellow of Henley Business School and lectures at Cambridge University. Simon regularly appears as a media pundit on oratory. His TEDx talks have had 4m plus views.
Simon Lancaster is the author of ‘Speechwriting: The Expert Guide’, ‘Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership’, 'You Are Not Human: How Words Kill' and the newly published ‘Connect! How to Inspire, Influence & Energise Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. Simon is the founder of Bespoke Speechwriting Services Ltd, a global speechwriting agency, and has written speeches for top politicians and the CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world, including Unilever, HSBC and Intercontinental Hotels Group. He is an Executive Fellow of Henley Business School and lectures at Cambridge University. Simon regularly appears as a media pundit on oratory. His TEDx talks have had 4m plus views.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 10, 2016
Definitely one of the better books in a category which, you could say, is full of cookie cutter literature...
Of course, this stuff isn't really new...but Simon has a compelling way of presenting/representing it.
If I were writing a reading list for copywriters I'd put this under 'recommended reading'.
Of course, this stuff isn't really new...but Simon has a compelling way of presenting/representing it.
If I were writing a reading list for copywriters I'd put this under 'recommended reading'.
January 13, 2020
Un livre rempli de trucs pratiques pour ceux qui écrivent des discours et pour ceux qui les prononcent, mais aussi d’observations douteuses basées sur quelques études saupoudrées selon les besoins de l’auteur. On en prend et on en laisse, et on repart tout de même avec un portrait intéressant des coulisses de la communication politique.
August 31, 2019
Love!love!love.
If reading and speaking are your every day fuel, then you will eat this up. I can recommend his YouTube.
If reading and speaking are your every day fuel, then you will eat this up. I can recommend his YouTube.
April 7, 2022
Dovremmo insegnare retorica nelle scuole. Il libro mi è sembrato molto utile e divulgativo, anche se non capisco perché tutto debba essere interpretato nella chiave della leadership.
November 17, 2020
I can happily tell anyone that I loved this book. It is witty and entertaining, as well as highly informative and educational.
From a highly successful speechwriter, we really do get insights into why certain ways of speaking and turns of phrase light us up like a drug. 'Your brain on Boris' has stayed with me since hearing it.
I loved Simon's Ted Talk and it was my first introduction to the ancient art of rhetoric as first taught by Aristotle.
I've had a fascination for years on the ways in which we are secretly influenced and subtly persuaded, often away from our own best interests. This book for me is a valuable part of my collection on influence and persuasion in public speaking and presentations.
From a highly successful speechwriter, we really do get insights into why certain ways of speaking and turns of phrase light us up like a drug. 'Your brain on Boris' has stayed with me since hearing it.
I loved Simon's Ted Talk and it was my first introduction to the ancient art of rhetoric as first taught by Aristotle.
I've had a fascination for years on the ways in which we are secretly influenced and subtly persuaded, often away from our own best interests. This book for me is a valuable part of my collection on influence and persuasion in public speaking and presentations.
February 26, 2023
Amazing book! I haven’t found one on this theme before, or at least not as good.
The book is talking about the power of words in speeches, analyzing the themes behind and helping in crafting best speeches suitable for the situation
Use: Believe/ dream/ imagine / love
Think of themes:
- nature: grow, nurture, sprout, water
- car: accelerate, driver seat
- machine: can be tricky as parts can break and need replacement - power through, cogs
Some additional ideas worth mentioning:
Praise - releases serotonine in both parties.
If you make people feel great they will feel bound to give something back
The book is talking about the power of words in speeches, analyzing the themes behind and helping in crafting best speeches suitable for the situation
Use: Believe/ dream/ imagine / love
Think of themes:
- nature: grow, nurture, sprout, water
- car: accelerate, driver seat
- machine: can be tricky as parts can break and need replacement - power through, cogs
Some additional ideas worth mentioning:
Praise - releases serotonine in both parties.
If you make people feel great they will feel bound to give something back
August 12, 2017
A study in the language of Leadership
A great read, although I could do without the abject idolatry of Obama. Leftist propaganda aside, there is great information here. I particularly enjoyed the authors brief but articulate assessment of rhectoric and the use of metahor. The book is a little pricey at $20, but worth it.
A great read, although I could do without the abject idolatry of Obama. Leftist propaganda aside, there is great information here. I particularly enjoyed the authors brief but articulate assessment of rhectoric and the use of metahor. The book is a little pricey at $20, but worth it.
October 2, 2017
Обязательно к прочтению людям, которые хотят быть понятыми и словом жечь сердца людей. Рецепты и истории от английского спичрайтера, идеальная структура и изложение.
November 28, 2018
A very entertaining and easily explained on modern examples
September 13, 2020
Recommended book for weekend reading, as its topic is pretty simple yet useful for self development. I enjoyed my reading process since first untill last page, because the languange is practical and easy with clear structure. The book topic/point of discussion can be applied for anyone (not only with leader title), as it will help us to be a good communicator.
So summarizing important summary here for my personal future reference (the last 3 of below points are basically its content):
1. To win the heart, need to win in 3 aspects: intictive mind, emotional mind, and logical mind
2. Winning instinctive mind: metaphor that move minds, look of leadership, inner purpose, emphaty and the power of nice, smiles and hunor, breathing, style, whats in a name
3. Winning the emotional mind: stories and emotion, personal stories, creating culture, harnessing history, the value of value, great words we love, flattery and love, repetition repetition repetition, the eternal power of exaggeration
4. Winnng in the logical mind: threes! Threess! Threes!, balance, rhyme or reason, power of prespective, think of number, brevity
So summarizing important summary here for my personal future reference (the last 3 of below points are basically its content):
1. To win the heart, need to win in 3 aspects: intictive mind, emotional mind, and logical mind
2. Winning instinctive mind: metaphor that move minds, look of leadership, inner purpose, emphaty and the power of nice, smiles and hunor, breathing, style, whats in a name
3. Winning the emotional mind: stories and emotion, personal stories, creating culture, harnessing history, the value of value, great words we love, flattery and love, repetition repetition repetition, the eternal power of exaggeration
4. Winnng in the logical mind: threes! Threess! Threes!, balance, rhyme or reason, power of prespective, think of number, brevity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2017
Lancasterov britský humor je fajn, ale som rada, že prekladateľ dával poznámky pod čiarou, lebo tie UK metafory sú na mňa moc niekedy.
Inak dosť zaujímavá kniha o tom, ako môžeme reč používať na nielen dosahovanie svojich cieľov, ale aj povzbudenie a motivovanie ostatných. By ste sa čudovali, kde všade sa nájdu také manipulačné techniky.
Inak dosť zaujímavá kniha o tom, ako môžeme reč používať na nielen dosahovanie svojich cieľov, ale aj povzbudenie a motivovanie ostatných. By ste sa čudovali, kde všade sa nájdu také manipulačné techniky.
February 14, 2025
I never knew the power of metaphors before this book. Metaphors are important to convey an undercurrent. When you compare something, you should pick metaphors that fit. Like, if you see your startup as a rocket, use words like 'take off' or 'adding fuel to the fire'. If you see a political party as a family, use different metaphors. Metaphors help people remember your ideas better.
February 10, 2025
Overarching concepts are fine. But it feels very dated.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews