Book excerpt: Balancing skills and theory, Principles of Public Speaking emphasizes orality, Internet technology, and critical thinking as it encourages the reader to see public speaking as a way to build community in today's diverse world. Within a framework that emphasizes speaker responsibility, critical thinking and listening, and cultural awareness, this classic book uses examples from college, workplace, political, and social communication to make the study of public speaking relevant, contemporary, and exciting. This brief but comprehensive book also offers the reader the latest in using technology in speechmaking, featuring a unique and exciting integrated text and technology learning system.