Evolution of Reading Practices and Literacy

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The chapter explores the historical context of public education and the development of reading methods, from early literacy initiatives to modern global literacy rates. It discusses the impact of different reading approaches like sight words versus phonics and addresses concerns about attention spans and distractions in the digital age. The narrative reflects on the societal implications of changing reading habits and poses questions about the future of literacy.

Clay tablets! Printing presses! Old timey audio books! Speed reading strategies! Attention spans! Dyslexia history! Literacy campaigns! Dr. Adrian Johns is an historian, professor, and author of the book “The Science of Reading” and we have a nice mellow chat about when humans started to “read,” what that means, being Hooked on Phonics, Dick, Jane, character languages, audiobooks, e-readers, school segregation, literacy rates, and how long we can focus at a time. He literally wrote the book on it.

Visit Dr. Adrian Johns’ faculty bio at University of Chicago

Shop Dr. Johns’ books including The Science of Reading: Information, Media, and Mind in Modern America (2023) and The Nature of the Book: Print and Knowledge in the Making (1998)

A donation went to 826LA.org and Glioblastoma Research Organization