Most people called on to present information are not actors or scriptwriters. For these presenters, a look-alike bullet-list set of slides based on a PowerPoint template has been a boon, even when the audience is left bored and disinterested. Indeed, PowerPoint presentations are derided both by many of their creators and by the audiences who are obliged to sit through them. The bullet-list approach is challenged by the authors of this book. They supplant the popular PowerPoint formula for ease of use and boring your audience with a new concept for creating presentations: patterns.

Although patterns as a method for creating presentations is a novel approach, the concept was first developed in 1977 by Christopher Alexander, an architect, in his seminal work [1]. Through his analysis of house types and components, Alexander created a large vocabulary of individual patterns for house design, cataloging and organizing them into a pattern language. Since then, programmers and interface and web designers, among others, have applied Alexander’s methodology to their respective disciplines. The authors of this book base their pattern structures on both Alexander’s work and on subsequent organizational formulas for software development, as described in Design patterns [2].

The authors use the following rules to create their presentation patterns, and each pattern exhibits the identified components. First, name the pattern with an appropriate or catchy name that makes it easy to remember. Second, define the pattern, including a document separate from the visual presentation that conveys information in detail. Third, identify the motivation, or the reasons to use the particular pattern. This is not a part of the final presentation, but details the reasons for its application, such as audience, information type, what needs to be conveyed, and so on. Fourth, define the pattern application, that is, how and where the pattern is best used. Fifth, specify the mechanics of how the information is to be applied and presented. Sixth, cite known uses, places where the pattern under development is commonly or frequently used. Finally, list related patterns that blend well with the patterns being used or considered for use.

The book is organized into three parts. The text is not necessarily meant to be read in sequence. Readers are encouraged to pick and choose as their needs and interests lead them.

Part 1, “Prepare,” covers content, audience, and patterns to help guide your thoughts into a usable form.

Part 2, “Build,” describes how to put it together. Slide construction patterns include effective ways to deliver your ideas, along with some to avoid. Temporal patterns are timing devices you can use to implement delivery “punch” and emphasis. This section includes the Infodeck pattern, a print document with detailed information for audience handouts created as part of a PowerPoint type of presentation. The authors note that some presentation creators develop a presentation that is really an Infodeck, a format that should be avoided since it slows down the presentation delivery. This part also includes strategies for creating demonstrations or presentations, and defines their differences.

Part 3, “Deliver,” zeros in on “stage prep,” or things to consider before making the presentation; “seeding satisfaction,” or how to make the audience like you; “performance patterns,” with guides for improving your presentation; and “performance anti-patterns,” or no-nos.

Interludes and Personas are textual asides scattered throughout the book. They include discussions on a relevant pattern and vignettes or short highlights regarding alternate uses for a pattern.

Each part includes a number of appropriate patterns. Each pattern is full of pertinent and extremely helpful information. Each is given an appealing, catchy, or memorable name, which appears as the text heading for the pattern use and description. Succeeding paragraphs follow the rules listed above: definition, motivation, applicability, mechanics, known uses, and related patterns. The text is written in descriptive sentences following the standard paragraph format.

A presentation is a performance, in which the presenter is an actor and a scriptwriter, with the ability to translate dry or complicated material into information that is easily digestible. Most people faced with the task of creating a presentation look for a better, easier, more stimulating way to deliver information to their audience. This book offers much information with great depth, using the new approach of patterns and their use. The text identifies the many forms a presentation may take, with many pattern selections for each, but is limited in its ability to guide the prospective user, despite the many categories and choices.

Typically, the information suffers from its lack of bullet lists, which the authors recommend for presentations. Print and how-to books have somewhat different criteria. Subheadings and a bullet summary of a pattern’s salient points would improve a speaker’s ability to focus on what is important in the chosen pattern. Some patterns use graphics, but unfortunately their use is subordinate to the text in many places where they would add to understanding. Additionally, anyone planning to create a presentation using the excellent patterns developed in the book would not know where to go beyond Part 1. Pattern titles can vary from the solid “Know Your Audience” to the somewhat obscure “Abstract Attorney” or “Crucible.” While their content is useful, the names may not be.

This book presents its information in a lively, well-written way, organizing its categories and subdivisions by type rather than by need analysis. Without preliminary scenarios or patterns at the introductory level to help define and analyze initial needs, choosing the best patterns for a particular problem can be perplexing. A better solution would have offered a top-down approach, analyzing the overall needs of presentations. Each need would form the top of the topology structure. Below each major need, the structure would show its supportive patterns. A second edition would benefit greatly from the attention of a good editor to help restructure the excellent information for better use.