When They Go Low, We Go High, Philip Collins
When They Go Low, We Go High, Philip Collins
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When They Go Low, We Go High

Author: Philip Collins

Narrator: Philip Collins, Ben Onwukwe, Eric Meyers, Helen Keeley

Unabridged: 16 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperAudio

Published: 07/17/2018


Synopsis

When First Lady Michelle Obama approached the podium at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, nobody could have predicted that her rousing and emotional “When they go low, we go high” speech would go on to become the motto for the political left and an anthem for opponents of oppression worldwide. It was a speech with the kind of emotional pull rarely heard these days, joining a long list of addresses that have made history. But what about Obama’s speech made it so great? When They Go Low, We Go High explores the most notable speeches in history, analyzing the rhetorical tricks to uncover how the right speech at the right time can profoundly shape the world. Traveling across continents and centuries, political speechwriter Philip Collins reveals what Thomas Jefferson owes to Cicero and Pericles, who really gave the Gettysburg Address, and what Elizabeth I shares with Winston Churchill. In telling the story of great and sometimes infamous speeches—including those from Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, JFK, Martin Luther King, Jr., Disraeli, Hitler, Elie Wiesel, Margaret Thatcher, and Barack and Michelle Obama—Collins breathes new life into words you thought you knew well, telling the story of democracy. Whether it’s the inaugural addresses of presidents or the revolutionary writings of Castro, Pankhurst, and Mandela, Collins illuminates and contextualizes these moments with sensitivity and humor.When They Go Low, We Go High is a strong defense of the power of public speaking to propagate and protect democracy and an urgent reminder that when great men and women speak to us, their words can change the world.

About Philip Collins

Philip Collins is a columnist for The Times and an Associate Editor of Prospect magazine. He was Chief Speech Writer to Prime Minister Tony Blair in 10 Downing Street between 2004 and 2007 and has subsequently written keynote speeches for a range of senior politicians, leaders of charities and NGOs and Chief Executive Officers. Mr Collins is the author of The Art of Speeches and Presentations and pioneered the analysis of major speeches in The Times.


Reviews

Goodreads review by India on January 15, 2018

A history and analysis of rhetoric and politics by Philip Collins, former chief speechwriter to Tony Blair. We start with Pericles' funeral oration and end with the 2016 Democratic National Convention. We cover democracy and civil rights and the concept of government- and everything in between. Ther......more

Goodreads review by Joseph on September 11, 2018

It would be erroneous to claim that every page of When They Go Low, We Go High is gripping. Certainly, this book is not without its dry parts - whole great sections of them. But where Collins shines - discussing Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, MLK (all American figures, interestingly) and finally Eli......more

Goodreads review by Oshun on March 11, 2021

This might be a niche read for some people, but I have worked in press, publicity, and even speech writing over the years and like to think I have an appreciation of the art. There were some old favorites and historical speeches right up through the present day. Not all were of equal quality but I c......more