Presents the bad without an alternative good
I've admired Tufte's work since he first published "visual display..." so I leapt on this when it appeared and purchased 17 copies for colleagues at work. They liked and agreed with it, but dismissed it as impractical advice!
I find I agree with almost all his points about PowerPoint's dumbing down of information, but then sat back an thought about the message and the medium. Powerpoint is a tool for presentations - it focuses the audience, keeps the presenter on track and provides handy reminders. It's not intended to be a high information content medium.
However the abuse of powerpoint comes in its use a a non-presentation way to distribute information. So often a person who misses the presentation asks for the slides as an alternative to being there. Now Tufte comes into his own and his points are more relevant because the Powerpoint has become the message and there is no presenter to amplify the information.
This pamphlet is useful, but only when considered in context of what you want to do with your PowerPoint slides - are they going to become the message (as in the Columbia examination) or are they the medium to keep the presenter on track. Read his other books as well and write a White Paper or report to go with your slides.
PowerPoint Critique on Point
SLIDE ONE
The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within, Second Edition by Edward R. Tufte makes me wonder:
- can you make a point in list format?
- why are we in such a hurry to get to our point?
- is Tufte making a statement by referring to PowerPoint as PP in his text?
- why do we think style is more communicative than substance?
SLIDE TWO
Reasons to get and read this book:
- you'll never want to make a class presentation using PowerPoint again, even if it is required you do so
- if you never noticed irritating blips, beeps, background color and distracting graphics...you will after reading the book
- it will give you cause to sit back and really talk for a while about what you think, rather than give visual bites (the PowerPoint version of sound bites)
Don't waste your money
This short article - it is not long enough to be called a book - is more of a rant than useful instruction. Save your money. He has written several good books on data presentation; this is not one of them.
Has many excellent points about presentations
This is a very good read for everyone who has relied on powerpoints to disseminate information, especially critical information
Standard issue
Reading and adherence to the guidelines in this handy little tome should be standard operating practice for all who prepare presentations for an audience - be it a classroom, board of directors or jury.
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