I find what you wrote confusing. One time you seem to write about what you read, next it seems as if you were present, but somehow I don't believe you were. Since it isn't written in a way you experienced this.

No, I wouldn't raise my hand to get a copy of that book.

I also don't understand why it matters what the speaker looks like. It makes me suspicious. If looks matter it means most of what he said is b-shit.
You also don't seem to know what the speech was about, except that one should grab his chance. But when is it your chance? If you are the brutal one, if you are disliked, sued, the police will drag you out because you misbehave and your greed makes you dangerous?
It all depends and if you ask me this "grab your chance" is meant in a different way, more like: Act instead of sit, complain and pray god or someone else will come to your aid.