How This Book Was Built

(With a Little Help from AI)

Confession time: this book had a co-author who never needed coffee, never missed a deadline, and never once asked for a parking pass. Meet ChatGPT 4.5—our tireless writing partner. Before you picture a robot in a tweed jacket, let’s be clear: the ideas, structure, and final voice are human through and through. The AI just helped us move faster, think wider, and punch up the prose when needed (minus the dad jokes… mostly).

Here’s how it worked.

First, we built a detailed outline—chapter by chapter, section by section—covering exactly what belongs in a modern business communications course. Think of it like the world’s most specific grocery list: no wandering down the snack aisle, just the essentials (plus the useful extras you actually use). Using that outline, ChatGPT 4.5 generated multiple versions of each section. We compared drafts, combined the keepers, and tossed anything that didn’t earn its place. Only then did the human editors step in to shape the final voice, polish the examples, and make sure everything sounded like a real person teaching real students in the real world—because that’s the whole point.

After the drafting came the craftsmanship. Every chapter you’re about to read was edited by the author, Dr. Doug Williamson, and reviewed by Editor Casey Miller. They made sure the tone stayed friendly and practical, the stories landed, and the advice could survive outside the classroom—like in meetings, emails, presentations, and those “got a minute?” hallway conversations that somehow take 20.

We also sprinkled in fresh perspective from the outside world. Posts and insights from LinkedIn, relevant articles, and short video clips about modern communication skills are woven throughout to keep the material current and grounded. Where a quick example explains more than a long lecture, you’ll get the quick example. Where a visual helps, you’ll get a visual. Where a story teaches best, you’ll get the story. (No twirling mustaches or cliffhangers… well, not many.)

And speaking of stories, you might notice the style feels a bit different—more conversational, humorous, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek. That’s because this book proudly borrows its authoring style from Dan Gookin, the legendary writer of DOS For Dummies (the very first “…For Dummies” book). Dan kindly gave his blessing to use his trademark approachable, slightly snarky style here—and yes, we’re now officially connected on LinkedIn. If this book makes you laugh and learn at the same time, you can thank Dan for pioneering that approach.

What’s next?

Because communication keeps evolving, this book isn’t frozen in amber. We’ll refine it after each semester—adding new material when it earns its keep and retiring anything that’s past its prime. If a topic belongs in a museum (looking at you, fax machines and interoffice mail), we’ll let it retire gracefully. If something new becomes essential (AI meeting notes, messaging etiquette, story-driven decks, or whatever comes next), we’ll bring it in, teach it clearly, and give you tools to practice it right away.

This “always-learning” approach is deliberate. The goal isn’t just for you to memorize techniques—it’s for you to build communication habits that stick. So you’ll see practical checklists, realistic scenarios, and step-by-step models you can actually use at work tomorrow morning. If the advice doesn’t hold up under real-world pressure, we rethink it.

One more thing: we genuinely want your feedback. If something here really helps you, tell us. If something feels off, unclear, outdated, or just plain annoying, definitely tell us. Critical suggestions are gold; kind words keep us going. Both make the book better for the next class. Send your thoughts to drwilliamson@txwes.edu—we read everything (yes, really).

Finally, about that AI: ChatGPT 4.5 is a powerful drafting assistant, not a replacement for human judgment. It helped us explore options, sharpen explanations, and test different ways of teaching a concept. But every claim, example, and recommendation you’ll find here was vetted, edited, and owned by the humans whose names are on the cover. If you laugh, learn, or land a better job because you communicate more clearly, credit them. If something bugs you, blame them too—they insisted on making the final call.

All set? Let’s get to work. Keep your curiosity handy, your notes short, and your examples real. By the end, you’ll have a communication toolkit that’s modern, practical, and yours to keep—no robot required.

Here’s to fewer awkward messages, smoother meetings, and presentations that don’t make people check their watches.
Doug & Casey