"The relational theme that the authors set up as a the novelty in an introductory textbook is what would prompt me to adopt it. . . . Something that makes this textbook different is the personal approach that Duck and McMahan use. They address the students as if they were talking to them. . . . Furthermore, the family communication and identity chapters are very appealing and not a common feature among textbooks." (David Chronet-Roses 2008-08-20)
"Every chapter presents a variety of materials and issue from communication, psychology, sociology, applied linguistics, and other social sciences and humanities. I have never seen such an interdisciplinary-oriented textbook." (Masahiro Masuda 2008-08-20)
"It is a fresh, new approach that will make conversations with students quite rich!" (Erin Sahlstein 2008-08-20)
"Duck and McMahan's attempt to integrate a relational component to all communication contexts cleverly integrates communication, theory and practice, with psychology, theory and practice."
(Michael Elkins 2008-08-20)
"This is an excellent text for the instructor frustrated with simple and simplistic renderings of communication as merely the skill of self-expression. It challenges both the instructor and the students to set aside what they have been taught by their culture and their media and to reconsider why we think of communication in individualistic terms and how that dominant framework shapes the relationships we engage and maintain."
(Lance Brendan Young 2008-08-20)
"This book is entertaining yet relevant, helps instructors connect with their students, and demonstrates the significance of communication as both everyday performance and scholarly endeavor."
(Branislav Kovacic 2008-08-20)
"This text is really the first to take advantage of theory and research that focus on the role of communication, relating, and dialogue in everyday life. The central strength is the focus on the ‘dynamic betweenness’ of human communication, and how communication, relationships, and social structures are constituted and reconstituted in everyday life." (Larry Erbert 2008-08-20)
I would welcome the opportunity to use this text based on the conversational writing style of the authors, the balance between theory and application of this information to daily relationships, and the end of chapter features for discussion. (Ann Marie Jablonowski 2008-08-20)
"An in-depth basic communication text with easy to understand examples for each topic area."
(Quinton Davis 2008-08-20)
"I think that this may be the best book on the basics of communication in terms of organization and relationship between theory and reality, bravo to the authors for their fine work." (Brian Cogan 2008-08-20)
