Any resources you recommend on capturing and holding peoples attention?

Question

What books, videos, courses, resources, etc. have you found that are well written/produced on being engaging.For example writing engaging content, making engaging videos, engaging people one on one and in groups.Capturing and holding people's attention.I would love your suggestions please post below if you have a minute...God Bless, Titus

open-source-ux · Accepted Answer

Patrick Winston (1943-2019) was a computer scientist at MIT. Every year he gave a popular talk titled How to Speak. In the talk he explains effective techniques to hold your audience's attention. Here is a recording of the talk from 2018:
How To Speak by Patrick Winston:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unzc731iCUY
He also published a book of his insights in 2020 titled Make It Clear: Speak and Write to Persuade and Inform. Many of the examples in the book have an emphasis on speaking in an academic or teaching setting. However, there are good insights that anyone can learn from.

tsegratis · Answer

Tell life stories. An early one for me:The axe slammed into the door, making the wooden hut shudder. My friends were inside asleep, and the rebels had come to attack....G.B. you too