Freedom of speech and public speaking are critical components of a healthy democracy. iSpeak promotes this declaration by using examples that reflect vital personal, social, and political themes that portray campus communities across the country. iSpeak consistently demonstrates that public communication is directly related to what people care about, what people want, and what people do. Created in response to student and instructor feedback on the importance of visual appeal, brevity, and price, this magazine-like text stresses the importance of public speaking in contemporary life. Through numerous practical and student-centered examples, the book and media program help students become confident and engaged communicators–at school, in the workplace and in the community. By framing most of the examples within seven vital themes of our time, iSpeak prompts students to connect their basic public speaking class directly to issues related to health, education, diversity, the environment, ethics, technology, and democracy.