extended zombie metaphor is all-too-apt an indictment of the shambling, repetitive, brainless and unengaged wandering through bad habit, lack of connection and futility that characterizes most contemporary public speaking. The author, a professor, consultant and TEDx speaker, has 25 years of experience in this field. This book, designed as a college textbook, uses zombies and a decent dose of humor to remain engaging as it delivers content that is simply superior to its expensive alternatives from the big textbook publishing machines. This book is based on both broader and deeper research than any other available. Its reference list is twice the size of its nearest competitor, utilizing contemporary research from the fields of psychology, business, communication, design, education, and the STEM disciplines. This book also contains the first-ever chapter on public speaking and depression, an innovative chapter on the pitfalls of research in the Internet age from a student's perspective, and a chapter which abandons the simplicity of the typical approach to persuasion to focus with clarity on a research--based approach to how people actually respond to arguments and change their minds. Most speaking textbooks have been written the same way for a hundred years, with just a few updates for presentation technology. Although we have ample evidence that changing minds is hard, if not impossible, most textbooks blithely assert simple persuasive tricks, slide templates and superficial audience analysis will be enough to make you a a success at the front of the room. If everyone has read the same basic textbooks since the mid-80s, which have changed very little, in essence, as they revise toward their double-digit editions, but if most people also feel that most speeches they sit through are a waste of time, there is something missing. We are just going through the motions. Shambling. Looking for brains. This is the book where you will find them.