The act of reading is a miracle. Every new reader's brain possesses the extraordinary capacity to rearrange itself beyond its original abilities in order to understand written symbols. But how does the brain learn to read? As world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist and scholar of reading Maryanne Wolf explains in this impassioned book, we taught our brain to read only a few thousand years ago, and in the process changed the intellectual evolution of our species.

Wolf tells us that the brain that examined tiny clay tablets in the cuneiform script of the Sumerians is configured differently from the brain that reads alphabets or of one literate in today's technology.

There are critical implications to such an evolving brain. Just as writing reduced the need for memory, the proliferation of information and the particular requirements of digital culture may short-circuit some of written language's unique contributions--with potentially profound consequences for our future.

Turning her attention to the development of the individual reading brain, Wolf draws on her expertise in dyslexia to investigate what happens when the brain finds it difficult to read. Interweaving her vast knowledge of neuroscience, psychology, literature, and linguistics, Wolf takes the reader from the brains of a pre-literate Homer to a literacy-ambivalent Plato, from an infant listening to Goodnight Moon to an expert reader of Proust, and finally to an often misunderstood child with dyslexia whose gifts may be as real as the challenges he or she faces.

As we come to appreciate how the evolution and development of reading have changed the very arrangement of our brain and our intellectual life, we begin to realize with ever greater comprehension that we truly are what we read. Ambitious, provocative, and rich with examples, Proust and the Squid celebrates reading, one of the single most remarkable inventions in history. Once embarked on this magnificent story of the reading brain, you will never again take for granted your ability to absorb the written word.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

The Audio Version Is Much Better Than The Written Book:

Well, to be perfectly frank about this, I don't know if I could have finished reading the written version of this book. The audio version made me feel like I was listening to a professor giving a college lecture, which in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does have a tendency to get quite deep and a bit much at times. You definitely don't want to try and absorb it all in one or two sittings.
The information that the author provides is top-notch and very informative especially for... more info

A must for any teacher:

I am not a professional reviewer, so in simple terms... this writer does an excellent job of covering the history of writing and reading. She makes it interesting, even if you don't like history. She does an excellent job on the science of how the brain works regarding reading. Again, she does an excellent job even if you don't like science.
I believe this is a must have for any teacher. To understand how minds work and how reading and the brain really go together. It is a very interesting book and you... more info

Looking at Reading:

Wolf, Maryanne. "Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain", Audiobooks, 2008.
Looking at Reading
Amos Lassen
Many of us are unaware that the brain is not wired for reading or written language. We do know that reading has changed and enhanced our loves and has changed our worlds. In order to be able to read, the brain must rearrange itself so that it can interpret and understand written symbols. Looking at the human brain, Maryanne Wolf shows us a great deal about... more info

Proust and the Squid:

This book was an excellent explanation into the workings of the reading brain and our ability to acquire language. It explored the research for the last century on the ability of humans to read and retain information.
A must read for all educators.

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