Personal improvement in communication begins with a clear understanding of your own attitudes and of the relationships you build with others. Human Communication draws the best available research and helps each student, no matter who they are or where they are, to develop the skills needed for effective and confident communication in any occasion. Human Communication is an integrated program that helps students practice communication skills, build confidence in public speaking, and achieve success in their introductory communication course. Always rooted in the most current scholarship and with an eye on practical, everyday communication scenarios, Human Communication is designed to make introductory communication studies immediate and relevant to students. The authors strike a balance of definitive theory and everyday application that resonates with the challenges and goals of today's typical basic course. In the new 6th edition, updated research is integrated throughout the text. Additionally, a new chapter feature called "Communicating Creatively" was added to each chapter, which stresses how creativity can be used to improve communication skills address in the chapters, and an end-of-chapter feature, "Be Ready.For What's Next", provides students with an understanding of how to continue growing their skills to use in other classes, the workplace and life.

Finally, the new 6th edition will also feature SmartBook, the first and only adaptive reading experience, that highlights content based on what the individual student knows and doesn't know, and provides focused help at that moment in need through targeted learning resources (including videos, animations and other interactivities). SmartBook's intuitive technology optimizes student study time by creating a personalized learning path for improved course performance.