Ever been asked to stand up and give a toast or short speech? How did it make you feel? If you are the kind of person who goes weak at the knees even thinking about it, then this book is for you. It will enable you to stand up with confidence and deliver a really effective toast and/or short speech that is appropriate for any occasion. Most people are called upon to give a toast sometime in their lives; from senior executives, managers, leaders, performers and presenters to speakers, teachers, trainers and dads or mums at their children's christening, wedding, graduation or prize-giving.Anyone without experience who needs to present a toast as part of his or her work, or who is called upon to speak in public on a regular basis will find this book invaluable. It gives a lively history of the art of toasting, tips on how to organise a short speech, plus advice on how to plan and prepare it. It also presents a rich variety of toasts, quotes, proverbs and rhymes to help you make a real impact.

Contents: Introduction; 1. Wherefore the Toast? A bit of History; 2. Toasts and Short Speeches; 3. Toasting Around the World; 4. How to Give a Great Toast; 5. Roasting and Toasting; 6. Wedding Toasting;7. Sample Toasts - an A-Z; 8. Proverbs and Limericks; 9. Workbook; 10. The Five Steps to Successful Speaking and the 50 Tips to Get You There; Resources; Index.