Articles
Cooper on the craft of saying something that truly matters.
Cooper has written thousands of speeches. He has seen what works and what falls flat, what moves a room and what leaves it politely waiting for the meal. Everything he has learned -- about structure, story, humor, delivery, and the particular art of honoring someone in public -- is here.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Toast: What Every Great Wedding Speech Has in Common
Breaking down the structure that makes the difference between polite applause and a standing ovation.
Why the Personal Story Is the Most Important Part of Any Speech
The science of narrative and why one specific memory outperforms every general compliment.
How Long Should a Wedding Toast Actually Be? The Data Might Surprise You
What the research and professional speechwriters say about length -- and why shorter almost always wins.
The Best Man Speech: A Complete Guide from First Draft to Final Delivery
Cooper's end-to-end guide for the most pressure-filled five minutes in a best man's life.
How to Be Funny in a Speech Without Bombing
The mechanics of humor in toasts, what makes a joke land vs. fall flat, and how to read the room.
Toasting Someone You Don't Know Well: How to Give a Genuine Speech With Limited Material
For coworkers, new in-laws, and anyone who drew the short straw.
How to Write a Eulogy That Honors Someone Completely
The most important speech most people will ever give, handled with the care it deserves.
The Maid of Honor Speech: Everything That Makes It Different From the Best Man's
The distinct traditions, expectations, and emotional register of the other side of the aisle.
How to Deliver a Speech When You're Terrified of Public Speaking
Practical techniques that work -- from someone who has watched thousands of speeches go well and badly.
The Retirement Speech: How to Celebrate a Career Without Sounding Like a LinkedIn Post
Making a professional tribute feel genuinely personal and warm.