| Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 32 reviews)
Sales Rank: 5740
Category: Book
Author: Maryanne Wolf
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Studio: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Label: Harper Perennial
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0060933844
Dewey Decimal Number: 573
EAN: 9780060933845
ASIN: 0060933844
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
"Human beings were never born to read," writes Tufts University cognitive neuroscientist and child development expert Maryanne Wolf. Reading is a human invention that reflects how the brain rearranges itself to learn something new. In this ambitious, provocative book, Wolf chronicles the remarkable journey of the reading brain not only over the past five thousand years, since writing began, but also over the course of a single child's life, showing in the process why children with dyslexia have reading difficulties and singular gifts. Lively, erudite, and rich with examples, Proust and the Squid asserts that the brain that examined the tiny clay tablets of the Sumerians was a very different brain from the one that is immersed in today's technology-driven literacy. The potential transformations in this changed reading brain, Wolf argues, have profound implications for every child and for the intellectual development of our species.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
 Proust and the squid November 26, 2008
Human beings were never born to read. I can't remember not being able to read. It's funny. I thought I'd try the audio version because I read so much. I thought it would be a break, but I much prefer to read. The audio of course doesn't have any graphs, but it is much easier to get through. A friend actually gave me the book, and I found it hard to get through, even though I feel I should finish it. There's a lot of useful info. but it's a little dense. I did feel I came out with some useful tips on kids and reading.
 Pop Science...Acedemic Style November 20, 2008
This is a very interesting book about the history of and theories explaining the human brain's ability to read. What I find particularly attractive about this book is that it goes beyond the typical pop science genre that would approach this topic by glossing over details and focusing on a style that would appeal to a mass market. While this book is written in an entertaining and engaging style, it's still a challenging read that provides enough detail to give the reader a significant understanding of the topic.
I enjoyed it.
Interesting November 20, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Since many good reviews have been posted on the book version, I have nothing to add here. Although these cd's were a Vine freebie, I cannot help but express a sense of irony upon encountering an audiobook about the mental process of reading.
A very good book, but not basic information. This is audio November 20, 2008
version review. I have read this book, in the hard back form. I am reviewing the audiobook here. The book has the same information from the text. But it didn't come with any inserts for the graphs in the book, of which there are few, but they are absent. The first time I read it was in the paper copy. The information is dense and I needed to read several chapters again. I will say that I have 3 college degrees, one in science, one in liberal arts, and one in literature. And this book has taken a lot of energy for me to process. According to the author this book was written for "the general public", but is a tough nonfiction read. It is however, well worth it if this is a subject that interests you. I have gone back and listened to the audio and have to say it was very helpful. I don't know if this is because it is the 3rd time I have been exposed to the information, or because of having been exposed to it in both written and audio form lead to more understanding on my part. It has a lot of information that I can use, because I teach second grade, so I have kids on all levels of reading skill. It has made me much more flexible and open in how I teach reading. I am much more willing to get off the "beaten track" and teach the struggling reader in ways that aren't in my teaching books. The information here has provided me with many insights and I am grateful for the experience. I think the audio is well worth the money, even if you have already been exposed to the written text.
The Audio Version Is Much Better Than The Written Book November 20, 2008
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 those in an educational field such as; a teacher, professor, etc. Or, if you yourself, or even if you have a child in need of help with their reading skills. However, for the average person, I don't know why you would be interested in this particular source of information.
I would highly recommend the audio version of this book over the printed version. I think you will find it much easier to digest and you will more than likely retain more information than if you read it.
Shawn Kovacich
Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
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