I recently read the King’s Speech. I would highly recommend to anyone who struggles with public speaking.

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There were two main points I got out of the book.

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1) Everyone struggles with public speaking in one aspect or another. Even Kings. It’s comforting to know that you’re not unique in this struggle.

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2) With hard work public speaking difficulties can be overcome. The King had a severe issue, that also wasn’t dealt with at the opportune time. Had speech therapy been more advanced and had the King gotten intervention when he was a child he might have only suffered a few years. But even with those disadvantages he completely conquered it by the end of the book.

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Another reason I liked this book is it highlighted the fact: if he wanted to he would.

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First when king George (at the time just a prince) wants to marry Elizabeth he serves someone else to propose to her. The Prince’s reasoning is that it would be too embarrassing to be rejected, because of his nobility. Elizabeth rejects the proposal. Then the prince sends someone again. Again, she rejects the proposal from the messenger. Finally, a friend advises the Prince - “look she’s never going to marry you if you keep sending people. You have to ask her yourself.” He waits, but finally relents and asks Elizabeth himself which she accepts.

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Second, King Edward gives up the throne for his love. King Edward (the elder brother) becomes King, but is in love with a woman who is technically still married and divorced once already (to a man still living the shock!) Plenty of people advise King Edward and tell him he can keep her as his mistress - totally acceptable (rolling my eyes). But that he can’t be King and marry her. So he renounces being King. She was that important to him.

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If he wants to he will. If he wants to marry you - he’ll ask you himself. If he wants to marry you, he will give up being King so he can do so.