The Handy Communication Answer Book

Powerful oratory. Persuasive arguments. Succinct business pitches. Speeches and emails. From cave walls to the printing press, and from Cicero to TED talks, The Handy Communication Answer Book traces the history, explains the concepts, and examines the skills needed to master effective and efficient communication for every occasion. Providing insights and advice, this useful primer looks at how to improve verbal, nonverbal, and written communications.

Practical writing skills for clarity are analyzed. How do grammar and style affect meaning and interpretation? What clichés and common gaffes are easily avoided? Why are Ikea instructions an example of genius? Find out the advantages, pitfalls--and etiquette--of emails and social media. Public speaking dos and don'ts are dissected. What makes a "good" speaker? How to overcome fear and anxieties. How to use the body and voice to better effect. Engaging with an audience and dealing with hecklers, smartphones, and other annoyances are also covered. Communicating in specific settings is reviewed--in business (negotiating, reporting, networking, presentations, phone calls, or conflict management), among friends and acquaintances (across cultures, across generations, or in social media), and at school (showing--or teaching--what you've learned).

Communication is a massive topic, a subject that fascinates and frustrates people. It varies by context, audience, purpose, and form. From speeches to body language and from legalese and technical writing to how the Internet changed everything, this informative book brings the intricacies of speaking, writing, listening, and reading into focus through its well-researched answers to nearly 800 common communication questions, such as ...