'Mangion (Univ. of Malta) offers a clear, concise introduction to contemporary communication theory--not in the sense of the technical transmission of information along the lines of Claude Shannon's work but in the sense of the social and cultural meaning and significance (i.e., the semiosis) of communication. Bookended by a brief introduction and a briefer conclusion, 12 chapters focus on the relevant work of a particular thinker, comprising a who's who of major 19th- and 20th-century figures who formulated and shaped the philosophy of communication: Saussure, Peirce, Foucault, Eco, Derrida, Gadamer, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice, Searle, Habermas, and Halliday. Rejecting what he calls a "linear model of communication," the author highlights the role of context in the process of communication. Each chapter presents a broad overview of the particular philosopher's works and ideas, discusses the philosopher's specific relevance to current communication theory and practice, and provides some brief critical commentary. The book treats the production of communication (chapters 1-3), the reception of communication (chapters 4-6), and the resultant associated action of communication (chapters 7-12).' – D. B. Boersema, Choice