Introduction to Human Communication shows how central effective communication is to shared meaning making, identity construction and maintenance, and responsible interaction with the world. In an inviting and engaging style, Beauchamp and Baran provide the most current and complete survey of the discipline. They cover the basics of communication theory and research with vivid examples while providing practical tools to help students become more thoughtful, confident, and ethical communicators. This text demonstrates the relevance of communication to our everyday lives and invites students to apply what they learn in a broad variety of contexts--including mass communication, organizational communication, health communication, social media, and media literacy.