Presentation Skills That Will Take You to the Top (Collection), 2/e

38. The Anti-PowerPoint Party

Another Precinct Heard From

A Swiss group calling themselves the Anti-PowerPoint Party launched their efforts in 2011, complete with a bright red octagonal STOP sign logo. In doing so, they took their place in a long line of detractors that stretches all the way back to 2003. The formal start of the criticism of the software was the Wired magazine publication of an article called “PowerPoint Is Evil: Power Corrupts, PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely.”¹

The article was written by Edward R. Tufte, the noted graphics guru and professor emeritus of graphic design at Yale University. I’ve often challenged Mr. Tufte’s opinions, ...