“Nancy Duarte boils down great presentations to the essence of what connects people—great stories. As a leader, you need to connect, convince, and change people with your words—so don’t you dare start your next presentation without consulting this book first!”
Charlene Li
Author, Open Leadership
Founder, Altimeter Group
“Storytelling, empathy, and creativity are fundamental to the way we communicate, learn, and grow. Resonate teaches us how to access and master these gifts in meaningful and productive ways.”
Biz Stone
Twitter Co-Founder
“Resonate takes you on a beautiful journey illustrating how to construct and deliver the kind of presentations that are truly remarkable, memorable…and may even change the world. Anyone with ambition to make a difference in this world needs to get this important book. Nancy has made another remarkable contribution!”
Garr Reynolds
Author of Presentation Zen and The Naked Presenter
“TED knows first-hand how ideas that spread change the world. If you read Resonate, you’ll learn how to present ideas that stand out, are repeated, and create change.”
=Tom Rielly
Community Director, TED Conferences
“Nancy knows a secret, and she’s not shy
about sharing it: If you are intentional about
your presentations, if you tell a story on
purpose, if you set out to cause the change you
say you want, you’ll succeed. This book goes a
long way in selling you on making that choice.”
Seth Godin
Speaker, Blogger, and Author
“There is a stark difference between facts and a
story, between an image and a design, between
conveying information and moving people.
These differences distinguish people who yell
but aren’t heard from those whose whispers
resonate loudly and clearly. This is a
gorgeous book. Powerful ideas, visually
delectable, and with life-changing insight.”
Jennifer Aaker
General Atlantic Professor of Marketing
at Stanford Graduate School of Business
and Co-Author of The Dragonfly Effect
“At the heart of leadership and learning is great
storytelling. Resonate will both inspire and
give you the tools to teach, motivate, and
encourage audiences not just to listen but to
change and to act…and the world needs a lot
more of that! This book is a keeper, one to be
read and reread by anyone in the business
of persuasion.”
Jacqueline Novogratz
CEO of Acumen Fund
and Author of The Blue Sweater
“She’s done it again! Far more than an ‘encore
performance,’ Resonate has everything—‘the
beginning, middle and end’—to make your pitch
sing. Bravo, Nancy!”
Raymond Nasr
Advisor, Twitter, Inc.
“As Nancy Duarte knows better than anyone, it’s
not about the slides. This smart, insightful book
will teach you how to use the power of story to
recast your thinking and reinvigorate your
presentations. Resonate is a must-read for
anyone who has to stand before and audience
and persuade.”
Daniel H. Pink
Author of DRIVE and A Whole New Mind
“Duarte’s approach takes the reader ‘through’
something—transformation is the key—being
purposeful about how and where you take your
audience is something that most presenters
fail to even consider, let alone construct.”
Dan’l Lewin
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Corporation
“Nancy is one of the great storytellers of
our time. Thanks for letting us take a
look behind the curtain and learn from
your giftedness!”
Mark Miller
Vice President, Training and Development, Chick-fil-A
“The next time you need to tell a story, be sure
to have a copy of Nancy’s book as your trusty
guide. Through the ups and downs, the tears
and applause, Nancy will help you find your
way through the often mysterious, fascinating,
and powerful world of storytelling.”
Cliff Atkinson
Author of Beyond Bullet Points and The Backchannel
“The problem with most presentations is that
speakers don’t have a compelling story to tell
before they open PowerPoint. Resonate solves
this problem. It’s another magnificent book by
the world’s top presentation designer, Nancy
Duarte. It will hold a permanent place next to
Duarte’s Slide:ology on my bookshelf.”
Carmine Gallo
Communication Skills Coach
and Author of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs
“Resonate shows you how to evolve information
into a story that connects with your audiences
and rallies them to action. This powerful and
groundbreaking work is essential reading
for executives, entrepreneurs, students,
teachers, civil servants—everyone with
ideas and the desire to move them forward.”
Karen Tucker
CEO, Churchill Club
Duarte, Inc. is the global leader in presentations. We’ve honed our methods and expertise through more than twenty years in business, two top-100 Amazon business books, and an award-winning global training curriculum. In fact, 17 of the top 30 brands in the world are Duarte clients.
We apply the same visual storytelling techniques used in cinema and literature to build engaging communications, and transformative experiences that inspire a groundswell response in any audience. Our presentations unfold across multiple channels—whether it’s a live event, experience, or audience-driven content for a device like the one you’re reading this on. And we employ a highly-collaborative process, working closely with you to write, design, produce, and deliver a presentation that accelerates the reach and impact of your story.
For more information, visit www.duarte.com.
Click here to check out other books for sale by Duarte!
It takes a village to create a digital book. A huge shout-out to everyone at Duarte, Inc. for your continued support—THANK YOU!
Adam, Amanda D., Amanda L., Ana, Andrew, Angela, Annette, Brent, Brett, Brooke, Carol, Chris F., Chris I., Chris L., Chris O., Cindie, Courtney, Dan, Daniel, Darlene, Dave, Denise, Diana, Diandra, Doug, Drew, Ed, Elizabeth, Emily, Eric A., Erik C., Erik E., Fabian, Frances, Greta, Harris, Helen, Hiram, Ira, Ivan, James, Jason, Jasper, Jessica, Joe, Jonathan, Josiah, Kalee, Karyssa, Katie, Kerry, Kevin, Kyle, Lacey, Laura, Leejay, Lia, Liz, M, Marcus, Maria, Marisa, Mark D., Mark H., Megan, Mel, Melinda, Melissa, Michael, Michaela, Michele, Michelle, Nate, Nicole, Oscar, Patti, Paul, Paula, Ramon, Rico, Robin, Ryan F., Ryan O., Ryan M., Sareh, Scott, Stephanie C., Stephanie P., Stephen, Steve, Suzanne, Tammie, Terri, Veli, Vonn, Yvette
Special thanks to Rachel Wyatt Sorensen for writing the quizzes and Michael Stephens for paraphrasing original copy.
This book is dedicated to my Daddy—I miss you!
This multimedia edition published 2013
Published in the United States by:
Duarte Press, LLC
755 N Mary Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Copyright © 2013 Nancy Duarte
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book contains some material previously published in 2010 as a paperback Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences, ISBN: 978-0-470-63201-7.
See more at:
www.duarte.com
ISBN-10: 0985158204
ISBN-13: 978-0-9851582-0-0
OPENING VIDEO (2)
Young man in cinema, close-up: Erik Dreyer /Getty Images, Friends having dinner party in loft, smiling: Allison Michael Orenstein/Getty Images, Hands Cupped: ©iStockphoto.com/Michael Barkley, Businessman Holding a Black Umbrella: ©iStockphoto.com/Skip ODonnell, Spotlight on woman in auditorium raising arm: Justin Pumfrey/Getty Images, Lighting a match:©iStockphoto.com/Emrah Turudu, Daydreams: ©iStockphoto.com/Alexander Maas, Camera and Flashlight Sounds: ©iStockphoto.com/alexander kirch. Video Production by Ira Pietojo, Jasper Hiatt and Tomoko Lee
Persuasion is Powerful (7, 8)
Mahatma Gandhi & Jawaharlal Nehru: AP Photo/Max Desfor, Beth Comstock: Photographed by Frank Mari, Ronald Reagan: Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library, Leonard Bernstein: AP Photo/Terhune, Richard Feynman: Courtesy of the Archives, California Institute of Technology, Pastor John Ortberg: Courtesy of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Steve Jobs: AP Photo/Paul
Sakuma, Martin Luther King Jr.: AFP/Getty Images, Dancer Martha Graham: © CORBIS
Resonance Causes Change (9)
Chladni plates: Photographed by Anthony Duarte
Presentations Are Boring (13, 14)
Hand: ©iStockphoto.com/ВлaДислaв Сусой
The Bland Leading the Bland (16)
©BOTH WORLDS, 2010, Cecilia Paredes, Ruiz Healy Fine Arts. All rights reserved.
People Are Interesting (18)
Guy behind board: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Cork board: ©iStockphoto.com/Maxim Sergienko
Stories Convey Meaning (22)
Projector screen: ©iStockphoto.com/Nancy Louie
You Are Not the Hero (23)
All-about-me guy (Ryan Orcutt): Photographed by
Mark Heaps
The Audience Is the Hero (27)
Luke Skywalker & Yoda: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back TM & © 1980 and 1997 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable law.
CHRIS VOGLER ON THE HERO’S JOURNEY (37, 38, 39)
Chris Vogler Videos: Filmed by Joe Perez
THE CONTOUR OF COMMUNICATION: THE PRESENTATION FORM (44)
Nancy Duarte in blue: Photographed by Joe Perez
The Middle: Contrast (48, 49)
M.C. Escher: M.C. Escher’s “Circle Limit IV” © 2009 The M.C. Escher Company-Holland. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com
Case Study: Jawaharlal Nehru (55)
Mahatma Gandhi & Jawaharlal Nehru:
AP Photo/Max Desfor
How Do You Resonate with These Folks? (60, 61)
Duarte Heroes: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Segment the Audience (62, 63)
Beers: ©iStockphoto.com/Juli·n Rovagnati
Case Study: Ronald Reagan (66, 67, 68, 69)
Ronald Reagan: Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library
Acknowledge THE Risk (93, 94, 95)
Butterflies: ©iStockphoto.com/Jordan McCullough
Case Study: General Electric (103)
Beth Comstock: Photographed by Dave Russell
Everything and the Kitchen Sink (115)
Stack of sticky notes: ©iStockphoto.com/Marek Uliasz
Don’t Be So Cerebral (118, 119, 120)
David by Michelangelo: ©iStockphoto.com/alxpin
Transform Ideas Into Meaning (126, 127)
Nancy’s Gram: Photographed by Barbara Childs
Nancy’s Gram’s teacup: Photographed by Paula Tesch
Recall Stories (130, 131)
Nancy’s sister, Norma
Move From Data to Meaning (139)
Hans Rosling: TED/Robert Leslie
Establish Structure (151)
Figures (James Wachira and Krystin Brazie) behind glass: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Case Study: Richard Feynman (156)
Richard Feynman: Courtesy of the Archives, California Institute of Technology
PUTTING YOUR STORY ON THE SILVER SCREEN (168)
Hitchcock: Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images
The Birds sketch: Courtesy of Alfred Hitchcock Trust, Taylor and Faust
Create a S.T.A.R. Moment (176, 177, 178)
Richard Feynman: Diana Walker/TIME & LIFE Images/Getty Images
Bill Gates: TED/James Duncan Davidson
Steve Jobs: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
Case Study: Michael Pollan (179)
Michael Pollan: flickr/Pete Foley
Repeatable Sound Bites (183)
Ronald Reagan: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Winston Churchill: AP Photo
Johnnie Cochran, Jr.: AP Photo/Vince Bucci, Pool
Muhammad Ali: AP Photo
Neil Armstrong: AP Photo/NASA
Evocative Visuals (184, 185)
Iraqi women: AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz
Zimbabwean woman: © Emmanuel Chitate/Reuters
Case Study: Pastor John Ortberg (186, 187)
Pastor Ortberg: Photographed by Jeanne DePolo, DePolo Photography
Old Doll: ©iStockphoto.com/Edgaras Marozas
Case Study: Steve Jobs (193)
Steve Jobs with iPhone: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
Give a Positive First Impression (202, 203)
Nancy Duarte with glasses: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Nancy Duarte in field: Photographed by Jordan Brazie
Hop Down from Your Tower (204)
Tower of Babel: SuperStock/Getty Images
Value Brevity (208)
Abraham Lincoln: Wikimedia Commons
how to deliver a ted-like talk (219)
Nancy’s TED Slidemap: Photographed by Dan Gard
Case Study: Leonard Bernstein (221, 222, 223, 224)
Leonard Bernstein: AP Photo/Terhune
Children at concert: Courtesy NY Philharmonic
Manuscripts: © Amberson Holdings LLC, reproduced by permission of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc. via the Leonard Bernstein
Collection, Library of Congress
Typescript of “Humor in Music” courtesy Joy Harris Literacy Agency
Changing the World Is Hard (230)
Vintage poster: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Don’t Use Presentations for Evil (235)
Enron hearing: ©Martin H. Simon/CORBIS
Case Study: Martin Luther King Jr. (239)
Martin Luther King, Jr.: AFP/Getty Images
Be Transparent So People See Your Idea (243)
Transparent woman: ©iStockphoto.com/Joshua Hodge Photography, treatment by Erik Chappins, writing by Michaela Kastlova
Case Study: Martha Graham (246, 247, 248)
Dancer Martha Graham: © CORBIS
Martha Graham Lamentations: Courtesy the United States Library of Congress, Music Division, Photographed by Herta Moselsio
You Can Transform Your World (251, 252, 253, 254)
flickr/Christopher Peterson, flickr/Domain Barnyard, flickr/Joi, Joel Levine, flickr/technotheory, flickr/CIPD, flickr/cliff1066™, David Shankbone, flickr/squidish, flickr/libbyrosof, flickr/sskennel, flickr/sillygwailo, flickr/Acumen Fund, flickr/etech, flickr/Paula R. lively – fisher, flickr/cliff1066™, flickr/dbking, flickr/david_shankbone, flickr/Robert Scoble,
flickr/whiteafrican, flickr/Wendy Piersall (@eMom), Jasonschock, Túrelio, flickr/Derek K. Miller, South Africa The Good News, flickr/Viajar24h.com, flickr/rajkumar, flickr/Alan Light, flickr/Meanest Indian, flickr/Jim Epler, flickr/Floyd Nello, flickr/Hamed Saber, flickr/Andrew®, flickr/wwarby, flickr/Ministério da Cultura, flickr/Mister-E, flickr/Acumen Fund, flickr/Ray Devlin, flickr/Daniel Zanini H., flickr/Neil Hunt, flickr/promise, flickr/rajkumar1220, Martin Kozák
CASE STUDY: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (261)
Mozart: SuperStock/Getty Images
Director’s cut images (41, 62, 65, 120, 157)
Stormtrooper: Photographed by Eric Albertson
Beer tasting collage: Photographed by Mark Heaps
Butter baby (Rachel Duarte): Photographed by
Nancy Duarte
Arnie (Resonate print version): Photographed by
Dan Gard
Nancy’s notes pinned to wall: Photographed by
Dan Gard