Boxing Plato's Shadow: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication

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Dues and Brown are "spot on" in this survey of the history and importance of rhetorical theory, conceptually. However, in a book that is only eighty-seven pages long, such a "survey" can be "a motorcycle ride though an art gallery", in practice. The treatments of the subjects that are addressed in this "little book" came close to being so "Harley-ed", at times. That being said, I believe that there is much to recommend this book, especially for readers who are looking for a book that will give a good "thumbnail sketch" of important issues in and for the study of rhetoric. For example, I was particularly impressed by the authors' constructive analysis and application of the "Neo-Aristotelian" school of rhetorical analysis, a treatment that has not been common in the field of rhetoric since 1965, when a "double whammy" by Black's book and the outbreak of a "Young Turk/Old Buffalo" academic blood feud led to the great diminishment and disparagement of this type (and, for a time, of practically any other type) of rhetorical analysis. In addition, the authors' accessible (but not simplistic) writing style and use of narrative made the book a very pleasant "read". My suggestions for the next addition fo this book (and I do hope that there will be a next edition)can be encompassed by one word: more. The first three chapters, which are devoted, in effect, to "everything you ever wanted to know about the history of rhetoric but were afraid to ask" need to be at least twice as long as they currently are in order to provide at least a bit more of a complete and coherent analysis of the people,ideas, and events that are being discussed. Much the same assessment can be made of the fourth chapter, which deals with the application of the theories and methodologies of the social sciences to the study of human communication. However, it is the fifth chapter, which deals with "enduring issues" and "enduring value" in the field of communication study, that most needs "beefing up". While I believe that the issues that are being advanced are important ones I question whether a "general reader" could make meaningful sense of the authors' analyses as they are currently being presented. I believe that this observation has particular force where the nature and impacts of Plato's "dark shadow" are discussed. This is a good book, as it is. "Fleshed out", this book could be a very good book.

As a teacher and student of Philosophy and Communication, I can say that Dues and Brown really capture the historical roots of the Communication discipline in a volume thinner than my little finger. This is an excellent resource for all Communication scholars, and a great book to use in a survey course. D & B capture the essential elements of history and philosophy in a way that no one else could!