About the Book
Become a better communicator and keep the conversation going!
Written in a conversational style for students living in today′s world of ever-evolving media and new technology, this hands-on skills text puts students at the center of interpersonal communication. To help them become better, more successful communicators, married author team Teri Kwal Gamble and Michael Gamble shed new light on the dynamics of students′ everyday interactions and relationships, and give students the tools they need to develop and cultivate effective communication skills. Using an applied, case-study approach that draws from popular culture and students′ own experiences, Gamble and Gamble go beyond skill building by encouraging readers to critically reflect on their own communication patterns and actively apply relevant theory to develop and maintain healthy relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, and co-workers.
Designed to promote self-reflection and develop students′ interpersonal communication skills, the book appeals to their interests in and fascination with popular culture, media, and technology, engaging them by facilitating their personal observation, processing, and analysis of how they connect interpersonally in the real world and as depicted in popular culture, the media, and online. With this strong emphasis on concepts and examples relevant to students′ daily lives, each chapter of this engaging text examines how media, technology, gender, and culture affect the dynamics of relationships and self-expression.
Interpersonal Communication is divided into four main parts (Foundations, Messages, Dynamics, and Relationships in Context) and explores an array of communication settings—including family, workplace, and health. Pedagogical features, including chapter-opening self-assessments, pop culture examples, narratives, and discussion questions, focus on how students connect with others and how they can do it better. So help your students become better communicators with this fresh and thought-provoking introduction to interpersonal communication!
Table of Contents:
I. FOUNDATIONS
1. Interpersonal Communication: A First Look
2. The Impact of Self-Concept
3. Perception
II. MESSAGES
4. Listening
5. Communicating with Words
6. Nonverbal Communication
7. Conversations
III. DYNAMICS
8. Emotions
9. Trust
10. Power and Influence
11. Conflict
IV. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS
12. Relationship Dynamics
13. Intimacy and Distance in Relationships
14. Relationships in Our Lives: Family, Work, and Health-Related Contexts
About the Author :
Teri Kwal Gamble enjoyed a career as a full professor of communication at the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY (PhD, New York University; MA and BA, Lehman College, CUNY), and Michael W. Gamble, is a full professor of communication at the New York Institute of Technology in New York City (PhD, New York University; BA and MFA, University of Oklahoma). The Gambles are partners in life and work. Professional writers of education and training materials, the Gambles are the coauthors of numerous textbooks and trade books. Their most recent publication is The Interpersonal Communication Playbook (2020). Teri and Mike also are the coauthors of The Communication Playbook (2019). Among other books the Gambles have written together are Nonverbal Messages Tell More: A Practical Guide to Nonverbal Communication (2017), Leading with Communication (2013), and The Gender Communication Connection (2nd ed., 2014).
Previously, Michael served as an officer and taught Leadership Skills for the U.S. Army Infantry School during the Vietnam War. The Gambles also are the founders of Interact Training Systems, a consulting firm that conducts seminars, workshops, and short courses for business and professional organizations. Teri and Mike also produce training and marketing materials for sales organizations and are the coauthors of the trade book, Sales Scripts That Sell.
Teri Kwal Gamble enjoyed a career as a full professor of communication at the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY (PhD, New York University; MA and BA, Lehman College, CUNY), and Michael W. Gamble, is a full professor of communication at the New York Institute of Technology in New York City (PhD, New York University; BA and MFA, University of Oklahoma). The Gambles are partners in life and work. Professional writers of education and training materials, the Gambles are the coauthors of numerous textbooks and trade books. Their most recent publication is The Interpersonal Communication Playbook (2020). Teri and Mike also are the coauthors of The Communication Playbook (2019). Among other books the Gambles have written together are Nonverbal Messages Tell More: A Practical Guide to Nonverbal Communication (2017), Leading with Communication (2013), and The Gender Communication Connection (2nd ed., 2014).
Previously, Michael served as an officer and taught Leadership Skills for the U.S. Army Infantry School during the Vietnam War. The Gambles also are the founders of Interact Training Systems, a consulting firm that conducts seminars, workshops, and short courses for business and professional organizations. Teri and Mike also produce training and marketing materials for sales organizations and are the coauthors of the trade book, Sales Scripts That Sell.
Review :
“Smart and rich content—a nice blend of fields, with an emphasis on what makes communication unique.”
“The ‘What Do You Know’ sections are excellent because they provide a framework for students to read the chapter. It helps them determine what is most important.”
“I really like the ‘Try This’ [feature] because it provides instant ability for students to put into action what they are reading about in the text. Application is often the best way to learn so this is an awesome addition.”
“The ‘Try This’ sections really seemed to spark some good discussion in the class. This allowed students to see their communication as effective or ineffective, appropriate or inappropriate, and allowed them to look inward. It gave them a chance to reflect on how/why they experience difficulties in relationships, and how they can better approach conflict.”
“…so many opportunities to really engage learning throughout the chapter with reflection questions, application ideas, etc. Excellent!”
“Strikes a never-before-seen balance between general education goals AND preparation for Communication majors (links to journal articles in Communication are a major plus).”
“The text is user-friendly, seems to be geared toward an introductory student level, and offers real-life examples that promote understanding/application.”
“The nonverbal chapter is the best I’ve seen.”
