This book is based on a few very simple ideas about teaching and learning in the basic public speaking course: first, students truly enjoy learning to speak well publicly: second, the enjoy learning about the process while they learn speaking skills: and third, listening is an important partner in the process of speaking, not just a supplemental activity to be dealt with briefly. Hard work and practice is required to learn new skills, whatever the discipline. Public speaking is no exception. Beyond the time and effort required, however, there is an element to good fun here not always present in other courses. In public speaking we get to express ourselves about things that concern us, that are important to our community and nation, and that deserve thinking about. Few other skills courses involve so much that is positive. Teaching this course has always been fun, taking the course, while admittedly a different experience, can be just as much fun.