Proust and the Squid
ByPublisher Description
“Wolf restores our awe of the human brain—its adaptability, its creativity, and its ability to connect with other minds through a procession of silly squiggles.” — San Francisco Chronicle
How do people learn to read and write—and how has the development of these skills transformed the brain and the world itself ? Neuropsychologist and child development expert Maryann Wolf answers these questions in this ambitious and provocative book that chronicles the remarkable journey of written language not only throughout our evolution but also over the course of a single child’s life, showing why a growing percentage have difficulty mastering these abilities.
With fascinating down-to-earth examples and lively personal anecdotes, Wolf asserts that the brain that examined the tiny clay tablets of the Sumerians is a very different brain from the one that is immersed in today’s technology-driven literacy, in which visual images on the screen are paving the way for a reduced need for written language—with potentially profound consequences for our future.
162 Reviews
Mohnish Singh
Created about 2 months agoBritney815
Created about 2 months ago
“Overall: would recommend to those who are interested in language and the history of writing and reading. An interesting read for sure!
I enjoyed this book, although some parts are a bit challenging to wrap your head around if you’re not familiar with the brain and its functions and structures. However, it includes visuals that are designed to help with this, as the book is meant for a general (i.e., not academic) audience.
Fascinating information on the history and development of writing and therefore reading, and how the brain adapts when it can’t read properly (e.g., dyslexia). Wolf provides many examples to illustrate her claims, which add to the readability of the book. Certainly glad I read it and will likely come back to parts in the future!”Pratik
Created 2 months agoash
Created 3 months ago
“Going to use this for my dissertation. Great read for anyone interested in literacy, how the brain learns to read (which we made it do. our brains don't naturally read!!), and dyslexia.”Rhiannon Cooper
Created 3 months agoAbout Maryanne Wolf
Maryanne Wolf, the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, was the director of the Tufts Center for Reading and Language Research. She currently directs the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA, and is working with the Dyslexia Center at the UCSF School of Medicine and with Curious Learning: A Global Literacy Project, which she co-founded. She is the recipient of multiple research and teaching honors, including the highest awards by the International Dyslexia Association and the Australian Learning Disabilities Association. She is the author of Proust and the Squid (HarperCollins), Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press), and more than 160 scientific publications.
Other books by Maryanne Wolf
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