On Human Communication ― A Review, a Survey, and a Criticism

A book on human communication that is worthy of its subject must introduce the readerto the dynamic interaction of a number of diverse fields. Colin Cherry's book, over successiveeditions, has served for twenty years as perhaps the most literate and readable introduction to thisinteraction available. Readers have consistently found that fields within their specialty arecovered with authority; that fields far removed are covered with clarity; and that the connectionsamong them are shown to be close and natural.This third edition includes a new chapter, "Feeling,Knowledge, and Understanding," that extends the book's reach into philosophy, and in particularcommunicates some existential points-of-view. In it the author undertakes to demonstrate that "Thelanguage of physical science is inadequate for discussion of what is essentially human about humancommunication." In addition, numerous changes have been introduced throughout the text, and thebibliography has been expanded and updated.