This book is an introduction to communication theory — the theory of how humans share, encode, and decode what they know, what they need, and what they expect from each other.

Contents

1. Perspectives on Theory
   1. Introduction: An overview of theory in communication study
2. Theorists and Approaches to Communication
   1. Uncertainty Reduction: Charles Berger, Richard Calabrese
   2. Propaganda and the Public: Walter Lippmann, Harold D. Lasswell, Edward Bernays, and Jacques Ellul
   3. Uses and Gratifications: Herzog, Katz, and friends
   4. The Frankfurt School: Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno
   5. Communicative Action: Habermas Commentary
   6. Semiotics and Myth: Roland Barthes
   7. Orality and Literacy: Walter Ong
   8. Diffusion of Innovations: Gabriel Tarde, Everett Rogers
   9. Social Systems: Niklas Luhmann
   10. Network Society: Manuel Castells
   11. Nonverbal Communication