Communicate!

Abstract

The textbook you’re reading, Communicate!, was one of the fi rst college texts about human communication. A lot has changed since Rudy wrote that fi rst edition. Over the years we have worked to make sure that students, like you, have a book that is easy and enjoyable to read and learn from. We have also worked hard to make sure that the information, theories, and skills discussed and relevant to the real relationships and communication situations you face. So every three years we examine the book in light of how the world has changed. Just ten years ago, cell phones were not in wide use, texting wasn’t a verb, many social networking sites and YouTube didn’t exist, and “to twitter” simply meant to speak excitedly about something. Despite these huge changes in the way we communicate, this textbook is as up-to-date and useful as the fi rst edition was because we work hard to make sure that the information we present refl ects what it takes to be an effective communicator today.