Viv Groskop Books
Viv Groskop is a British writer, comedian, and broadcaster known for her work on women’s confidence and communication. She is the author of several books and a host of the podcast 'How to Own the Room', where she interviews successful women about public speaking and leadership.
Known for: How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Books by Viv Groskop
How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
How to Own the Room is a practical, energizing guide to public speaking that redefines what it means to have presence. Rather than treating brilliant speaking as a gift reserved for the naturally charismatic, Viv Groskop shows that authority, confidence, and connection can be learned. Her central idea is especially powerful: owning the room does not mean becoming louder, harder, or more dominant. It means becoming more fully yourself while learning how to command attention with clarity and purpose. The book matters because many women are taught to see speaking as a test of likability instead of a tool for influence. Groskop challenges that conditioning. Drawing on examples from politicians, actors, activists, performers, and leaders, she examines how different women speak powerfully in very different ways. This makes the book feel inclusive and realistic rather than prescriptive. Groskop writes with unusual authority because she combines personal experience, research, and years of interviewing accomplished women through her podcast and public work. As a writer, comedian, broadcaster, and interviewer, she understands both the fear of speaking and the craft behind it. The result is an inspiring book for anyone who wants to stop shrinking, start speaking, and be heard.
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Fear Is Normal, Not Fatal
The most liberating truth about public speaking is that fear does not mean you are unprepared, untalented, or unsuited to the task. It means you are human. Groskop begins by stripping away the fantasy that great speakers are fearless. In reality, many compelling speakers still feel nerves before ste...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Confidence Grows From Authentic Permission
Many people think confidence is something you project after you have earned it. Groskop turns that idea upside down. Confidence begins with permission: permission to take up space, to speak in your own voice, and to stop imitating someone else’s model of authority. This is especially important for w...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Study Role Models, Don’t Copy Them
One of Groskop’s smartest insights is that role models are useful not because they offer a script to imitate, but because they expand your sense of what is possible. Many women grow up with too few visible examples of female authority in public speech. As a result, they may unconsciously assume that...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Your Body and Voice Speak First
Before your audience processes your argument, they are already reading your body and hearing your voice. Groskop emphasizes that physical presence is not superficial decoration; it is part of the message. A strong idea delivered with apologetic posture, rushed speech, or constricted breath can lose ...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Preparation Creates Freedom Under Pressure
People often imagine that the best speakers are effortlessly spontaneous, but Groskop shows that apparent ease is usually built on thoughtful preparation. Preparation is not about memorizing every sentence until you sound robotic. It is about knowing your material so well that you can stay flexible,...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
Connection Matters More Than Performance
A powerful speaker is not someone who dazzles from a distance, but someone who creates a sense of relationship with the audience. Groskop repeatedly returns to the idea that brilliant speaking is fundamentally relational. Audiences do not simply want information; they want to feel that the speaker s...
From How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking
About Viv Groskop
Viv Groskop is a British writer, comedian, and broadcaster known for her work on women’s confidence and communication. She is the author of several books and a host of the podcast 'How to Own the Room', where she interviews successful women about public speaking and leadership.
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Viv Groskop is a British writer, comedian, and broadcaster known for her work on women’s confidence and communication. She is the author of several books and a host of the podcast 'How to Own the Room', where she interviews successful women about public speaking and leadership.
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