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When was the last time you talked to someone? Just a minute ago? Talking is so automatic in our daily lives that we rarely, if ever, stop to think about what underpins our simplest conversations. But in his groundbreaking Communication in Everyday Life, Dalton Kehoe asks us to do just that: to consider the forces of the cognitive unconscious that shape everyday talk. In a straightforward, accessible way, he provides the reader with information from the neuro- and social sciences that illuminates the complexity of everyday talk. Building on that foundation, he then gives practical guidance on how to become a more capable communicator, especially in difficult situations.
In his long career as a communications specialist, Kehoe developed a three-mode model of talk that he outlines here: the C.O.N.N.E.C.T., C.O.N.T.R.O.L., and D.I.A.L.O.G.U.E. modes. Understanding these modes makes it easy for speakers to choose which type of talk to enact, depending on the situation. While this book would be an excellent textbook for first- and second-year courses in interpersonal communications, it would also be useful for anyone who wants to improve his or her communication skills. At its heart, Communication in Everyday Life is a guide to achieving a better life by becoming more effective at the one thing we all do every day—talk!
