Book excerpt: Real Communication uses stories from real people and the world around us to present the best and most lively introduction to communication concepts. Professors and students alike have fallen in love with Real Communication’s down-to-earth writing style, its coverage of research, and its wealth of learning and teaching tools. They also appreciate how Real Communication strives to weave the discipline’s different strands together with the CONNECT feature that shows students how concepts work and apply across interpersonal, small group, and public speaking contexts. The Second Edition is even better with a broader array of engaging examples, new coverage of hot topics in the field like Intercultural and mediated communication, plus a public speaking unit honed to provide the essential information students need for this fast-paced course. Whether you want a traditional paperback, an e-Book — online or downloadable to a device — a looseleaf edition, or the book within the new HumanCommClass, Real Communication has an option for you. Read the preface.