If there’s one subject that fascinates most people, it’s other people. That’s why we might sneak a peek at In Touch Weekly or The National Enquirer when we’re stuck in line at the grocery store (even if we’re not that interested in the latest gossip about the Kardashian sisters). It’s why you don’t rush to end the conversation when your mother says, “You’ll never guess what happened to your cousin Leah.” The life of another person can certainly make for an interesting informative speech topic. You might lean toward giving a speech about someone who is famous (or infamous)—indeed, audiences are usually receptive to learning about someone who is famous simply because they revere or worship celebrity (Atkinson & Dougherty, 2006; Spitzberg & Cupach, 2008). On the other hand, an obscure but interesting person, such as Dr. Catherine Hamlin (who provided free medical care to young women in Ethiopia), can also be a great speech topic.

The key to giving a successful speech about another person is to focus on the person’s human qualities as well as his or her achievements. In addition, you should show not merely what these people did but also why and how they did it. In other words, give your audience a real sense of who they are or were. To meet this goal, your speech should include anecdotes, quotes, and stories that show the motivations behind their actions. Chapter 12 offers help in adding these speech supports.