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Galvin, Kathleen M., and Pamela J. Cooper. Making Connections: Readings in Relational Communication, 5th ed. New York: Oxford, 2010. The essays in this collection give an overview of the field of interpersonal communication and provide a feel for the ways in which communication affects the building of relationships.
Savage-Rumbaugh, Sue, and others. Apes, Language and the Human Mind. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. In the first part of this book, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh describes her 18-year relationship with a chimpanzee named Kanzi. In the second, she and her colleagues discuss the cognitive and communicative capabilities of non-human primates. This book makes us consider what it means to be human and offers another view from that discussed in the text.
Segerdahl, Par, William Fields, and Sue Savage-Rumbaugh. Kanzi’s Primal Language: The Cultural Initiation of Primates into Language. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. For 18 years, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh maintained a relationship with a chimpanzee named Kanzi. In this book, she and her colleagues give a behind-the-scenes look at how Kanzi acquired the ability to use a form of language.
Schweder, Richard A. Thinking Through Cultures: Expeditions in Cultural Psychology. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1991. An interesting and thoughtful discussion of some of the philosophic questions raised by social constructionism. Not as easy to read as some of the other sources, it is well worth the effort just for its insights into other cultures.
Sigman, Stuart J. Introduction to Human Communication: Behavior, Codes, and Social Action. Needham Heights, Mass.: Ginn, 1992. A collection of readings on such diverse topics as interpersonal deception, visual elements in television news, dance as communication, and the paintings of Van Gogh.
Walker, Stephen. Animal Thought. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1983. If you are at all intrigued by animal communication, you will find this book fascinating. It is clear and easy to read, but it also does a thorough job of evaluating the scientific literature.