The 10 Best Business Communications Textbooks

Penned by two respected leaders in the field, the comprehensive Excellence in Business Communication (around $151) covers every facet of office discourse you could imagine, from routine requests to presentation planning, and it has been thoroughly updated to include social media, too.

Not only does Business and Administrative Communication (about $75) use an approachable style to teach the building blocks of effective messaging, but it's also full of advice from leading figures, such as Warren Buffett, as well as examples from powerhouse companies like Zappos.

Not satisfied with simply guiding readers through the best written and oral practices, Business Communication: Process & Product (appx. $209) takes things further by elucidating on the competencies that employers value most, such as critical thinking and teamwork skills.

Even if you're a whiz at giving presentations and conducting meetings, you may still be baffled by the digital workplace, which is where Business Communication Essentials (around $172) can help. It balances basic approaches with guidance on the unique challenges mobile devices present.

Directed at undergraduate students, but equally useful for aspiring industry professionals, Guide to Managerial Communication (appx. $43) addresses the special hurdles those in charge must overcome, like maintaining your credibility and inspiring your employees to action.

Based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, Getting to Yes (about $31) is a straightforward title about resolving conflicts. It offers a proven, step-by-step strategy for reaching mutually acceptable agreements with other parties, regardless of the nature of the dispute.

In today's globalized economy, the odds that you'll need to converse with someone from another country are high. Intercultural Business Communication (about $112) supplies indispensable instruction on everything from writing letters to other nationalities to avoiding faux pas.

From asking for a promotion to administering a reprimand to an employee, there are myriad tense, high-stakes situations you're bound to run into at work. Crucial Conversations (around $21) provides the tools needed to be persuasive, yet professional, and speak openly about any topic.

If you're the type who often feels as though you don't always convey the right details or get the big picture across, then a volume like Simply Said (appx. $13) will be beneficial for you. It connects skills with scenarios to help illustrate when certain tactics need to be deployed.

While it might not offer much in the way of how to effectively use email or make a PowerPoint slide, 5 Voices (around $14) will get at the heart of your behavioral patterns in order to clear a path for constructive conversations with your team, superiors, and even your loved ones.