Cartoon Gde Noncommu

by Larry Gonick

Book Overview

From the author of the extraordinary bestseller The Cartoon History of the Universe (150,000 copies sold)--an all-new cartoon guide effectively analyzing the ambiguous relationship between language and meaning in today's information age.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006273217X
• ISBN13: 9780062732170
• Release Date: May 1993
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Communication is hard, but this book makes it easier to understand

Communication between humans is very hard, as there are so many different ways in which information can be sent. Furthermore, all communications are carried out in a historical and local context. There is the history of all previous communications between all involved and there are the current surroundings and exterior conditions. Even the same words spoken in a different tone of voice can impart different meanings and there are the local restrictions imposed by the rules of social interaction. If you study communication between humans, your conclusion is often that it is surprising that it works so well. It is for that reason that nearly all people who study human development believe that we possess an innate ability to communicate with others. The speed and skill with which young children pick up language is nearly conclusive proof of that. Gonick takes us back to the fundamental reptilian brain that mammals have and discusses the emotional responses that we have to communication. Ritual, major theories of communication, new ways to communicate such as through e-mail are some of the ideas presented using cartoons. They are amusing and thought provoking and explain the problems and main ideas of communication in ways that are easy to understand. Technology has made it easier to send messages, but it is not yet certain if it has made it easier to communicate. Television has made it easier to send incorrect messages, and some examples are cited. Because they do require action on the part of the participants, computers are much better at facilitating communication, although problems in the use of e-mail are persistent and emoticons had to be invented to reduce the level of problems. Communication is something that is much more difficult to understand than it is to use and few really understand all the subtle aspects of how it is done. This book will help you learn some of the different components of communication and in a manner that will never cause you to scratch your head in wonderment as to what it is you just read.