The Art of Lecturing

6 lectures, Dornach, October 11–16, 1921 (CW 339)

Lecturing is an art that requires command of many technical aspects. Novices tell all they know, or worse—whatever they have read about a subject. They either bore or overwhelm listeners with a flow of information. Master speakers know their audience and evoke wonder and insight. How is this done?

These lectures form the “Swiss Orientation Course,” or “The Speakers' Course.” They address the art of effective speaking, clarifying thought content, knowing one’s audience, verbal formulation, ethics of speaking, the effects of lecturers on their listeners, lyrical speaking, speech exercises, repetition, and full immersion in one’s topic so that the speaker will be listened to and heard.

This book is a translation from German of Anthroposophie, soziale Dreigliederung und Redekunst: Orientierungskurs fuer die oeffentliche Wirksamkeit mit besonderem Himblick auf die Schweitz (GA 339).