The Key to Survival: Interpersonal Communication

by Tracey L. Smith, Mary Tague-Busler

This impressive third edition will ignite readers to hone their communication skills and achieve positive results when they interact with others. Smith and Tague-Busler remain dedicated to presenting interpersonal communication concepts in a lively, accessible manner that compels students to grasp and apply useful communication techniques in their daily lives. Each chapter begins with a list of topics discussed, followed by a vignette—an element that grabs attention and artfully illustrates essential points discussed in the chapter. These clever chapter introductions, the inclusion of engaging personal experiences, the authors’ conversational writing style, and their clear presentation of complex topics defuse the possibility of confusion or intimidation. Students will find the subject matter comprehensible, manageable, enjoyable, applicable, and unforgettable. Discussion questions, the appearance of key terms in boldface throughout the text, and a comprehensive! glossary are additional attributes that make teaching and learning about interpersonal communication a gratifying experience. Titles of related interest from Waveland Cupach et al., Competence in Interpersonal Conflict, Second Edition (ISBN 9781577666493); Veenendall-Feinstein, Let's Talk About Cases in Study, Second Edition (ISBN 9780881338645); and Young-Travis, Oral Skills, Choices, and Consequences, Third Edition (ISBN 9781577667452).

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2000

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting textbook. It has a fictional vignette at the beginning of each chapter which helps illustrate real-life application to the principles that are about to be discussed within that chapter. It was an easy read in that the chapters weren't overly long and the language wasn't high-flown. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to get a better (though not completely thorough) understanding of interpersonal communications.