In the Company of Others: An Introduction to Communication

I had this book for an Intro to Human Comm class, and I was amazed at the depth and breadth of coverage of the communication styles of diverse groups. The author addresses common concerns with intercultural communication, communication in relationships (including friendships, dating relationships, and GLBT relationships), and how to handle groups whose members have nothing in common except that they're in a group together. Even if you don't need this book for a class, you might want to check it out just to get some pointers on how to improve your own communication expertise. Most of us have to deal with people at school, work, in our neighborhoods, out and about while shopping, and so on who are completely different than we are--efficiently getting your point across is a lot easier if you have the skills to succeed. Besides the examples used in the text itself, the included CD-ROM has plenty of quizzes, activities, and videos to help you grasp the concepts in real world settings. If you do take my advice, I hope you enjoy the book!