Maryanne Wolf is a scientist who studies reading. She published Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World in 2018. Although not a recent publication and not directly related to vaccine science, this book is included here for its relevance to both childhood brain development and the digital age in which we are living, particularly because it is changing how our brains work — something that we should all be aware of and consider.
Formatted as a series of letters to readers, the first part of the book provides basic information about how our brains learn to read. Wolf points out that we are the only species that has learned to read and that reading is not something we are born to do. Instead, we take advantage of the brain’s neuroplasticity, meaning its ability to create new pathways. The author describes the different types of reading and the benefits of deep reading, including development of empathy, the ability to infer knowledge, critical thinking and analytical insight, and she describes what happens when we don’t use these pathways (the short answer — they atrophy).
The next section of the book focuses on the use of digital platforms, including how we read differently on devices compared with books, what skills can benefit from the use of digital platforms, and considerations related to the use of these platforms by the youngest children.
Ultimately, Wolf concludes that we need children to develop biliterate brains that benefit from being able to switch seamlessly between print and digital formats in the way that those who speak more than one language do, and she outlines a way that she thinks this can be done with schools and parents working together toward such a goal.
Wolf’s knowledge of this area of research is apparent throughout the book, and she has contributed to both the acquisition of reading from print as well as the development of educational resources on digital platforms. Readers benefit from her inclusion of the latest knowledge in this area, and the 260-page book is a relatively quick read, making it easy to get up to speed on this important and timely topic.
Today’s children must grow up to be critical thinkers, and until we know whether and how saturation in digital media can build the skills to do so, we need to ensure that this and other benefits of reading print do not fall by the wayside. Together, we must work to ensure that children benefit from the best of both worlds.
The book can be ordered directly from the publisher or through major booksellers. See all options on the publisher’s website.
Maryanne Wolf is a scientist who studies reading. She published Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World in 2018. Although not a recent publication and not directly related to vaccine science, this book is included here for its relevance to both childhood brain development and the digital age in which we are living, particularly because it is changing how our brains work — something that we should all be aware of and consider.
Formatted as a series of letters to readers, the first part of the book provides basic information about how our brains learn to read. Wolf points out that we are the only species that has learned to read and that reading is not something we are born to do. Instead, we take advantage of the brain’s neuroplasticity, meaning its ability to create new pathways. The author describes the different types of reading and the benefits of deep reading, including development of empathy, the ability to infer knowledge, critical thinking and analytical insight, and she describes what happens when we don’t use these pathways (the short answer — they atrophy).
The next section of the book focuses on the use of digital platforms, including how we read differently on devices compared with books, what skills can benefit from the use of digital platforms, and considerations related to the use of these platforms by the youngest children.
Ultimately, Wolf concludes that we need children to develop biliterate brains that benefit from being able to switch seamlessly between print and digital formats in the way that those who speak more than one language do, and she outlines a way that she thinks this can be done with schools and parents working together toward such a goal.
Wolf’s knowledge of this area of research is apparent throughout the book, and she has contributed to both the acquisition of reading from print as well as the development of educational resources on digital platforms. Readers benefit from her inclusion of the latest knowledge in this area, and the 260-page book is a relatively quick read, making it easy to get up to speed on this important and timely topic.
Today’s children must grow up to be critical thinkers, and until we know whether and how saturation in digital media can build the skills to do so, we need to ensure that this and other benefits of reading print do not fall by the wayside. Together, we must work to ensure that children benefit from the best of both worlds.
The book can be ordered directly from the publisher or through major booksellers. See all options on the publisher’s website.