“The art of explanation” by Ros Atkins

The author 🖋

Ros Atkins is a renowned British journalist and BBC presenter known for his work on various news programs including "Outside Source" and "The Media Show" but mostly for the viral explainer videos he produced on topical news stories.

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Know your audience

Atkins emphasizes the importance of knowing who we’re talking to.

Tailoring our message to fit the audience's level of knowledge and interests helps make our explanation more effective and engaging.

We need to talk in a way they talk - it helps people get it.

2. Keep it simple

Stripping away unnecessary details and focusing on the core message is crucial.

We should say only the important stuff and avoid adding extra details that might confuse or distract people from the main points.

Clear and concise explanations are the best explanations.

3. Use stories & examples

Using stories and examples or analogies can make complex ideas more relatable and easier to understand.

These “tools” help us bridge the gap between what our audience knows and what we’re trying to explain (and make it more interesting).

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book is a practical guide full of advice on how to effectively communicate complex ideas with clarity and confidence.

Atkins shares techniques for structuring explanations, engaging the audience and expressing ideas which, I think, is super helpful not just in our professional lives, but in our personal lives as well.