Did you really hear what you think you heard?

Did you really read what you think you read?

Did you really say what you meant to say?

Did you really write what you meant to write?

The wrong words or unsaid words (even imagined words) can ruin a meal, end a relationship or start a war.

Be careful!

This informative, important and entertaining book from bestselling author Michael N. Marcus recounts some of the worst failures to communicate that led to disappointments, disagreements, divorce and military escalation, and provides vital advice for avoiding trouble.

The book's title is part of dialog from the acclaimed 1967 movie "Cool Hand Luke" starring Paul Newman.

The author says: "This book is not intended to be classic literature or a scholarly analytical treatise. It's very personal, based on what I've observed and analyzed over a lifetime. I've learned a lot about good and bad communication, and want to pass it on―with some laughs."

Topics include medicine, marriage, military, music, media, mondegreens, law, food, business, real estate, writing, publishing, construction, signs, names, language, religion, idioms, homonyms, heteronyms, relationships, railroads and sex.