Alston, J., & L. Thaxton. (2003). Stuff Happens (and Then You Fix It!): 9 Reality Rules to Steer Your Life Back in the Right Direction. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. This is a book designed to reassure, buttress, and underscore your confidence. If you are at all unsure of yourself, anxious about your coming speech performances, or simply need a boost to your ego, this is the book for you. In 131 pages, the authors discuss nine reality rules: 1) Wise up, stuff happens, 2) To win you have to begin, 3) Knowledge is power, 4) Be prepared, 5) Working hard at what doesn't work, doesn't work, 6) To change you life, change your mind, 7) Gratitude is the most powerful attitude, 8) Feedback...the breakfast of champions, and 9) The power to choose is within. With clear examples, specific "how-to" advice, common-sense observations, highlighted quotations, and quick thoughts, the authors offer a powerful base for adjusting your attitudes. This is an enlightening, practical, real-world approach to everyday living and problem solving.

[No author]. (2004). Bartleby.com. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.bartleby.com/. This is a source for free online literature, verse, and reference books. You can access complete electronic versions of the latest editions of the Columbia Encyclopedia, the American Heritage Dictionary, Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, the American Heritage Book of English Usage, the Columbia World of Quotations, Simpson's Contemporary Quotations, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, as well as the King James Bible, Oxford Shakespeare, Gray's Anatomy, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, the World Fact book, and Columbia Gazetteer.

Brown. M. (no date). Presentations. The Writing Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.wecc.rpi.edu/presentation.html. Brown offers snapshots of the following aspects of developing and delivering presentations: understanding your task and audience, structuring your presentation, framing your presentation, selecting visuals, and practicing for your speech. She includes specific, practical ideas.

Duncan, S. (2003). Present Moment Awareness: A Simple, Step-By-Step Guide to Living in the Now. Novato, California: New World Library. This is not a book about public speaking nor about communication in general. It is, instead, a book full of practical, down-to-earth advice about how to live in the present. Duncan includes easy, comfortable exercises to help readers drop their emotional baggage, calm their worries about the future, and to begin to enjoy peace and happiness in the present moment. Often, it is at the public-speaking unit that people begin to experience anxieties and nervousness. Duncan helps readers discover the true causes of their stress and discontent, and shows how emotions can be transformed from rulers to advisors. This is a well-written, easy-to-read, 131-page book that is encouraging, supportive, and rewarding.

Evans, P. (2003, August 7). The Explosive Power of C4 Public Speaking. SelfGrowth.com: Self-Improvement and Personal Growth. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http:///www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Evans17.html. Evans' C4 mentality includes content, confidence, connection, and cash. Evans is a motivational speaker, and his ideas on this 3-page website are practical and to-the-point.

Kirk, E. K. (2005, January 24). Meeting the Challenge of Critically Evaluating Information on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://users.mwc.edu/~khartman/educan98.html. Elizabeth Kirk is the electronic and distance librarian for the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University, and she brings a wealth of useful information to this comprehensive website. This is one of the most complete sources we have discovered on evaluating Internet information. The website is thorough, well-written, to the point, and up to date. This is a site for your favorites list.

Kurtus, R. (2002). Strategies to Succeed in Public Speaking. School for Champions. Kurtus Technologies. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.school-for-champions.com/speaking.htm. Kurtus covers topics such as goals, success requirements, prepare to speak, deliver with confidence, satisfy the audience, and additional resources. He offers links to articles on speaking, speaking courses, books of speaking topics, audio tapes on speaking, professional organizations, books on professional speaking, tips from professional speakers, software for speakers, anecdotes, and miscellaneous information.

McKinney, C. (2003). Public Speaking Resources. Advanced Public Speaking Institute. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.public-speaking.org/speaking-resources.htm. McKinney provides links to speaking organizations, speaker services, speakers bureaus, meetings, industry organizations, presentation equipment, other valuable speaking sites—which offers links to professional and/or commercial websites.

Miller, Michael. (2003). Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics. Indianapolis, IN: Que Publishing. In this 368-page paperback, Miller has parts on "Getting Started," "Using Windows," "Using Computer Software," "Using the Internet," "Working with Music and Pictures," and "Protecting and Maintaining Your System." For the purposes of this chapter, the part on "Using the Internet" is especially useful if you are a total novice. This section covers "Understanding the Internet," "Getting Connected to the Internet," "Surfing the Web," and "Finding Stuff Online," and more. It is basic including pictures, lists, tips, cautions, notes, and "The Absolute Minimum," which covers the key points to remember from each chapter. Many readers do not need a reference work this basic, but for those who do, this is an excellent resource.

[No author]. (2004). Public Speaking Information. SelfGrowth.com. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.selfgrowth.com/public.html. At this site, there are 13 related "Sponsor Websites," 29 "articles online," 41 "Additional Partner Websites," and 85 "Additional Websites" on a second page.

[No author]. (2004). Public Speaking Online Resources. The University of Alabama in Huntsville-Library Research Guides. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.uah.edu/library/internet/speaking.html. Here there are 12 links to "Speaking Resources," 4 links to "Speech Archives Sites," and 5 links to "Articles on Public Speaking."

[No author]. (2004). SpeechTips.com. The Online Speech Store. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.speechtips.com/. At this site you can obtain a free guide to speech writing and public speaking for eulogies, graduations, best-man and father-of-the-bride toasts, and any other public speaking occasions. There is specific, practical information for each of the three steps of speech presentation: planning, writing, and delivery. Also, there is a link to complete speeches, content guides, and toasts at SpeechSuccess.com.

Staneart, D. (2003, July 9). The Secret to Great Presentations. Selfgrowth.com: Self-Improvement and Personal Growth. Retrieved February 2, 2005, from http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Staneart3.html. In this two-page printout, Staneart discusses the "simple rule that can make or break a speaker," which is "ENTHUSIASM." He says that one of his mentors told him there are two rules to live by in the world of professional speakers. The first is never to speak on a topic that you yourself are not enthusiastic about. "Rule number two is that if you ever violate rule number one, fake it 'til you make it."

Tracy, B. (2004). Time Power: A Proven System for Getting More Done in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible. New York: American Management Association (AMACOM). Tracy has produced a valuable book—especially for beginning college students. He discusses, for example, the importance of goals and objectives, how to get yourself organized, establishing priorities, how to develop effective work habits, multitasking, how to deal with time wasters, how to overcome procrastination, how to make the most of your time, and how to save time in dealing with others. The sections are short, the writing is easy-to-read, the examples are plentiful, and the information is excellent. This is a valuable resource, and you should definitely make time to read it.