This anthology of contemporary messages is designed to offer the student a combination of varied readings related to the medium and subject matter of speech communication. The messages involve a variety of speakers and issues. The emphasis is on the contemporary, with special attention given to the relevance of speech communication to our society. Divided into two main sections, the book contains articles by both specialists and laymen. Part one, which contains nine chapters, is devoted to discussions of the role of communication in a sometimes violent society, the process and components of communication, interpersonal communication in the dyad and small group, and rhetorical criticism. Recorded in part two are personal observations and statements on the American scene by students, politicians, and reformers. These are messages which address the issues of human rights, divorce, ecology, the mass media, campus unrest, and national politics. They are intended for analysis and criticism by the reader and are included as inspiration and a point of departure for communication students. (LG)