The primary focus of this book is "the put-on" and other manipulative strategies. Manipulative forms of communication as used in contemporary society are examined in relation to advertisements and commercials, salesmen, political figures, authors, artists, educators and students. The book is a study of power--how the powerful and powerless, through strategy and tactics, battle for the distribution of power. Divided into three major sections of several chapters each, the book contains conceptual and theoretical discussions of various communication forms, the methods and procedures integral to that application, and analysis of the tactics and rhetoric employed in these manipulative strategies. An annotated bibliography of suggested readings is also included. Written in an easily readable style, this book is of interest to students and educators in speech communication on the advanced high school and beginning college levels. (Author/LG)