Permission to Speak by Samara Bay Book Review

How hard it is to say what you really want to say, especially with freedom, expression and confidence. As a youngster taught to be a quiet people pleaser, speaking out is not an easy task for me. How would I ever think I deserved respect when I talked?

I found this book fascinating. It is full of insights into how and why we speak as we do. It is a great help for an individual to find their particular voice, their authentic expression. I learned about pitch and tone, dialect and emotional expression. I had no idea showing emotions could be a powerful tool revealing passion rather than merely a sign of weakness. I like that Bay provides readers with choices, including options to change speaking habits. Awareness is key and once that is covered Bar provides suggestions and exercises, should we choose to change our voice. She draws from a wide variety of authorities in related disciplines.

While Bay has coached public speakers, this book is full of good insights if you want to sound confident making political speeches or when you phone in a customer complaint. It is especially valuable for women. Bar is interested in readers becoming the most powerful and potent authentic person possible. If you are ready to express your unique voice, this book will get you on your way. You can start by taking a deep breath.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Samara Bay coaches rising business leaders, political hopefuls, and public figures who need to speak in a voice they recognize as their own to truly make waves. She runs workshops and speaks at organizations around the world to support a new, diverse sound of power. In Hollywood, she helps movie stars integrate good acting with good accents, and has coached clients including Gal Gadot, Pierce Brosnan, Penélope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Terry Crews, Rachel McAdams, Ruth Negga, and Anjelica Huston. She has a BA from Princeton University and an MFA from Brown University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and dog, Moxie. Photo: ©Betsy Newman Photography

Crown, 288 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)