On Writing and Speaking Well: It's Easier Than You Think

Learn the secrets of great writing and powerful speech through one of the most influential texts in American history.

Recognized by Toastmasters International and inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, On Writing & Speaking Well: It’s Easier Than You Think offers a rare, integrated approach to communication—revealing writing and speaking not as separate disciplines, but as two expressions of the same core principles.

Through close analysis and practical insight, this eye-opening guide shows how great communicators organize ideas, choose words, and move audiences—whether they’re writing an email, delivering a presentation, or stepping onto a stage. The result is a simple, powerful framework that replaces confusion with clarity and fear with confidence.

Part guide, part workshop, the book is designed for deep learning: a clear, engaging theoretical foundation followed by a practical appendix filled with exercises, examples, and real-world applications. The tone is conversational, the advice immediately usable, and the results transformative.

Ideal for classrooms, boardrooms, and podiums alike, On Writing & Speaking Well is a modern classic for anyone who wants to communicate with authority, precision, and lasting impact—on the page and in the spotlight.

Philip Yaffe, a UCLA graduate in mathematics and physics, began his career as editor-in-chief of the university’s Daily Bruin before serving in the U.S. Peace Corps as a teacher in Tanzania. He went on to work for The Wall Street Journal, the global PR firm Burson-Marsteller, and in corporate communications for leading European companies. Now retired, he continues to share his expertise through monthly columns for Ubiquity (Association for Computing Machinery) and has authored numerous works on writing and communication.