Proust and the Squid

"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 the reading brain 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 from cognitive neuroscience 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.

Drawing on history, neuroscience, and personal stories, this landmark book illuminates the science behind our brain’s greatest invention. What does this journey tell us about ourselves, and what is at stake in our digital future?