Shaw is reputed to have said that the biggest problem with communication is the assumption that it has occurred. While I can't find a definitive source to claim that anyone said it, let alone George Bernard Shaw, I do know that it's true. The statement, that is.
S. I. Hayakawa's "Language in Thought and Action" is one of those weighty tomes that get me all excited. While it's certainly not weighty, physically (at less than 200 pages) it's a cerebral adventure that gives me palpitations and makes me want to go teach its concepts.
anger arguing argument assumption assumptions background books brevity challenges communication embarrassment expectations family fear generosity giving honesty indignation intent intentions joel d canfield Karen Lynn last word lie logic lying manners no passion perception perceptions process psychology punctuation quote reading reality semicolon simplicity sources stress trolls truth writing yes
