“Daniel Willingham pulls back the curtain on the fascinating process of reading, explaining the discoveries of cognitive science in clear, accessible prose. For the many fans of Why Don't Students Like School, Willingham's new book offers more of the rigorous yet enjoyable science writing we love.”
—Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Brilliant Blog
“This is a superb book. Willingham's ability to make cognitive research on reading coherent and comprehensible is exceptional. I wish that it had been available when I taught courses about research on reading to education doctoral students. This book should be standard fare in every doctoral education course on reading.”
—Isabel L. Beck, professor emerita, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh
“What goes on in the mind as we read? How do people learn to read? What motivates some to read more than others? Does reading online differ from reading books? For those curious about these questions, and for those who care about children learning to read and growing as readers, this delightful, easy‐to‐read book explains this highly complex topic through fascinating studies and lively examples. With probing questions after each chapter, The Reading Mind will make a terrific book club read or textbook.”
—Ellen McIntyre, dean and professor, College of Education, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
“This is the book we've been waiting for. Willingham captures the magic of reading while simultaneously demystifying how we read. He brings key experimental findings to light as he takes us on the journey from recognizing individual words to constructing meaning from text. Beautifully written, clear and accessible, yet still embracing complexities rather than shying away from them—this book is essential reading for anyone interested in how we read.”
—Kate Nation, professor of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford; fellow and tutor in Psychology, St. John's College
“Yet again, Daniel Willingham proves himself genius extraordinaire at translating research to practice! At once a brilliant tutorial on how the bitwise investigations of the research lab have evolved into the ever more powerful and comprehensive models that now dominate cognitive science, and a blueprint for educational excellence, this book is a must for educational practitioners, policymakers, and students. No more top‐down versus bottom‐up reading wars: language, literacy, and knowledge are all of one piece and so, too, must be their development.”
—Marilyn Jager Adams, visiting scholar at Brown University
“Dan Willingham has done it again! This is another of his essential books for educational professionals, and anyone else interested in the reading process—sharing the cognitive science and practical implications of research in the domain of reading. No one does this kind of book better than Willingham!”
—Keith Stanovich, author of Progress in Understanding Reading and The Rationality Quotient
“This book is like a Malcolm Gladwell for anyone who is fascinated with how the mind works in literacy development. Willingham mixes his wonderful sense of humor with examples that are simply fun to read while conveying very important concepts about reading. Students will love it; parents will understand it; and scholars will wish that they wrote it!”
—Susan B. Neuman, professor of childhood education and literacy development, New York University
“The Reading Mind is an indispensable exploration of not only how we read, but why we read. An easy and entertaining read that draws on the science of the brain, books, and behavior, Willingham's work will deepen your understanding of the many facets of reading and literacy, as well as how the brain processes what amounts to an astoundingly complex and historically unlikely process. The Reading Mind should be required reading for anyone with a vested interest in the written word.”
—Kristofor Lauricella, history teacher, High School for Youth & Community Development, Brooklyn, New York