Customer Reviews

Communication as ...: Perspectives on Theory

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Something needs to be said to counterbalance the 1-star review of this book by someone not even in the communication discipline. This book is not your typical communication theory book, in the best possible way. This book is not a laundry list of outdated communication theories. It is a metaphorical journey through many views on communication. Significant authors in the communication (WITHOUT THE "S") field talk about how they "see" communication. This book is a fabulous text for exploring a multitude of views on what communication is. The authors and editors leave the decision of what view is most appropriate for you, up to you. A very nice book overall.

Absolute drivel. Here's the opening shot from the chapter "Communication as Communicability" by Briankle ( a male name) Chang: "How does one begin to question Communication? More fundamentally, how can one not begin?" It heads straight downhill from there. On the up side, page 103 has perhaps the most spirited collection of invented academic terminology that I've seen since undergraduate days, so if you're a collector of that sort of thing, this text is a must-have. Other than that, purposeless. The contributors to this collection of essays are stealing their paychecks.

I bought this book for my Education Specialist class, and it was useless. But, that's the school's fault. Maybe if you're actually a Communications major it might be more helpful, but the book sure does repeat itself a lot. Also, lots of "fillers" are used to share simple ideas.