Historian and author Dr. Adrian Johns discusses the evolution of reading from clay tablets to audiobooks, literacy campaigns, attention spans, and dyslexia history. He touches on phonics, e-readers, and literacy rates. The conversation reflects on the impact of technology and societal changes on reading habits.

Author Adrian Johns discusses the history of reading, the reading wars, and the connection between reading and society. He explores the controversy between phonics and whole word reading methods, as well as the neuroscience of reading and the impact of technology. The importance of teaching children to read using phonics is emphasized, along with the challenges of navigating a changing media landscape.

Adrian Johns, Professor of History at the University of Chicago, discusses the problems with measuring literacy levels and the history of literacy panics. They also explore the impact of technologies like eye movement cameras on fields like marketing and user interface work.