Abram Book, Ph.D.
English & Communication
Assistant Professor/Internship Advisor
Phone
Location
Grauel 236
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS3225
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Dr. Book has taught communication in higher education for 13 years. Prior to coming to SEMO in 2021, Dr. Book taught public speaking and interpersonal communication for six years at Indiana State University. He currently serves as President of the Kentucky Communication Association and as Co-Editor of the Kentucky Journal of Communication.
Education
Ph.D., Communication, Regent University (2021)
M.S., Journalism, University of Illinois (2008)
B.A., Media Studies, Judson University (2005)
Courses Taught:
Research Interests
Communication in Religious Organizations
Crisis Communication
Fact-Checking
Southern Religious Rhetoric
Media Ecology
Quote
"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." Oscar Wilde
Professional Organizations
Central States Communication Association
Religious Communication Association
Kentucky Communication Association
Christianity and Communication Studies Network
Wesleyan Theological Society
Nazarene Historical Society
Honors & Awards
Vernon Gantt Award for Distinguished Service, Kentucky Communication Association
September 28, 2025
Best Advice for Students
Strive for the highest professional conduct and etiquette inside and outside of the classroom.
BOOK Publications:
Peer-reviewed book titled “Uncle Bud” Robinson: Enduring Lessons from an Early Twentieth-Century Simple Folk Preacher released in June of 2026 through Integratio Press. The book explores the life, preaching, and rhetorical legacy of one of the early twentieth century’s most distinctive American holiness preachers. Through rhetorical and communication analysis, the book explores how Robinson’s storytelling, humor, and plainspoken style engaged audiences while conveying enduring religious, cultural, and human insights.
Peer Reviewed Publications:
Contributed three chapters to the edited book titled From the Outrageous to the Scandalous: Re-imagining Christian Thinking and Scholarship in an Age of Tribalism & Ideological Resentment, Robert H. Woods Jr. and Mark Allan Steiner, editors. Integratio Press, 2026. Pages 187-193, 221-225, 387-389.
Book, A. J. (2024). “Be Persistent Whether the Time Is Favorable or Unfavorable”: A Wesleyan Perspective on Crisis Communication and Renewal Discourse in Local Churches. Journal of Communication & Religion, 47 (3), 50–63.
Book, A (2023). Bemusing Ourselves to Death: Using a media ecology framework toward a Postman understanding of Facebook. Artifact Analysis (2), 2.
Book, A (2023). The Anatomy of Fact-Checking: A cluster and content analysis of selected fact-checks by Politifact and Factcheck.org. Better Journalism (1), 1.
Book, A (Summer, 2022). Southern Folk Preaching: Suggesting the Existence of a Genre through Comparison of the Sermons of “Uncle Bud” Robinson and Fred Craddock. Artifact Analysis (1),3.
Book, A (2022). Give Me a Backbone as Big as a Sawlog: An Analysis of the Preaching of “Uncle Bud” Robinson—the Will Rogers of the Holiness Movement. Kentucky Journal of Communication (40), 3.
Book, A. (2019). New Journeys on Well-Worn Paths: Clarifying and Re-Applying Postman’s Media Ecology from a Judeo-Christian Perspective. Journal of Communication & Religion
Other Publications:
Book, A. J. (2024). "Heel kicking and holy jumping: Some early twentieth-century preachers enhanced their oratory with theatrical flair." Christian History (152), p. 25.
Conference Presentations And Panels:
Moderator and Panelist. Discussion Roundtable: “Beyond ‘Good with People’: Articulating the Distinct Value of Communication in Higher Education and Public Life," Kentucky Communication Association Conference, September 12, 2026. Murray State University, Murray, KY.
Panelist. Discussion Roundtable: Unbridling Opportunities: The Benefits of Involvement in a State Communication Association, Kentucky Communication Association Conference, September 28, 2025. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
Book, A. (April 2025). Communities of Shalom? An Analysis Audit of Communication Between Pastors and Laity in Local Churches. Central States Communication Association Conference. Cincinnati, OH.
Book, A. (April 2025). "We Must Face the Truth, and Then We Can Change Our Course": Renewal Discourse in Jimmy Carter's "Crisis of Confidence" Speech. Central States Communication Association Conference. Cincinnati, OH.
Panelist. Discussion Roundtable: The Highs and Lows of Peer Review: Being a Thorough Yet Conscientious Reviewer. Kentucky Communication Association Conference, September 13, 2024. Eastern Kentucky University. Richmond, KY.
Book, A. (Remote). Making the Case (Study): Leveraging AI to Produce Relevant, Usable Case Studies. Teaching, Learning, & Technology Conference (TLTCon 2024). May 7, 2024. College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.
Book, A. Be Persistent Whether the Time is Favorable or Unfavorable: A Wesleyan Perspective on Crisis Communication in Local Churches. Wesleyan Theological Society Conference. March 1, 2024. Trevecca Nazarene University. Nashville, TN.
Book, A (Knight, B, co-author). “The Almighty Has His Own Purposes”: Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Addresses as Crisis Communication. Kentucky Communication Association/Tennessee Communication Association Joint Conference. September 2023. Tennessee Tech University. Cookeville, TN.
Book, A. (March 2023). Reasonable Grace: Reforming Syllabus Policies to Meet the Needs of a Post-Pandemic World While Still Maintaining Standards. Innovation in Teaching and Learning Conference. Rolla, MO.
Book, A. (November 2022). Southern Folk Preaching: Suggesting the Existence of a Genre through Comparison of the Sermons of “Uncle Bud” Robinson and Fred Craddock. National Communication Association Conference. New Orleans, LA.
Panelist. Infodemic: Social Media Influence on Covid-19. Broadcast Education Association Conference. April 20, 2022. Moderator: Dr. Stephen Kabah, Oakwood University. (Virtual)
Panelist. Mediatized: Social Media Influence on Society and Culture. Broadcast Education Association Conference. April 20, 2022. Moderator: Dr. Stephen Kabah, Oakwood University. (Virtual)
Book, A. (March 2022). The Anatomy of Fact-Checking: A cluster and content analysis of selected fact-checks by Politifact and Factcheck.org. Central States Communication Association Conference. Madison, WI.
Book, A. (November 2020) “He Being Dead Yet Speaketh: Reuben A. ‘Uncle Bud’ Robinson and the Importance of Narrative Preaching in the Age of Secondary Orality.” Religious Communication Association Conference. (Virtual)
Book, A. (November 2020). Online Tithe-Giving and Church Attendance as Social Cognition: A Quantitative Analysis. Religious Communication Association Conference. (Virtual)
Book, A. (November 2019). “Communication Dynamics of the Decision to Leave Local Church Pastoral Ministry.” National Communication Association Conference. Baltimore, MD. Sponsored by the Religious Communication Association.
Book, A. (November 2018). “New Journeys on Well-Worn Paths: Clarifying and Re-Applying Postman’s Media Ecology from a Judeo-Christian Perspective.” Religious Communication Association (RCA) Conference. Salt Lake City, UT.