Comments on: Is Reading Dead? http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/ bly.com direct marketing blog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:41:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jim Furr http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-669087 Jim Furr Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:24:18 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-669087 Bob, If you knew what passes for reading in (most of) our public schools you would not be asking your question. I was overlooked in school because they did not understand dyslexia back then (I am 56). I started to read a LOT at around age 17 and Then got my education. I graduated university at age 39. "Hooked On Phonics" is the only way to go - don't give your kids up to public education, do it yourself. Phonics is the Old School way to teach reading. Just Do It! Jim Furr < Bob,

If you knew what passes for reading in (most of) our public schools you would not be asking your question.

I was overlooked in school because they did not understand dyslexia back then (I am 56). I started to read a LOT at around age 17 and Then got my education. I graduated university at age 39.

“Hooked On Phonics” is the only way to go - don’t give your kids up to public education, do it yourself.

Phonics is the Old School way to teach reading.

Just Do It!

Jim Furr <

]]> By: Robert Kopacz http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-619845 Robert Kopacz Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:38:40 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-619845 All this talk about reading misses the point. If we had the options for receiving information that young people have today when we were younger, we (meaning people like myself who are Bob's age) might have been reading less back then (and now). People are attracted to, and learn from (or are sold by), well told stories. Whether they are delivered using audio, video, or text is less important. Eventually, those who learn using audio-visual media and seek deeper meaning will turn to reading to enhance their knowledge, because neither video nor audio can deliver the depth and analysis that reading can. All this talk about reading misses the point. If we had the options for receiving information that young people have today when we were younger, we (meaning people like myself who are Bob’s age) might have been reading less back then (and now). People are attracted to, and learn from (or are sold by), well told stories. Whether they are delivered using audio, video, or text is less important. Eventually, those who learn using audio-visual media and seek deeper meaning will turn to reading to enhance their knowledge, because neither video nor audio can deliver the depth and analysis that reading can.

]]> By: BookWise http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-612137 BookWise Sat, 17 Nov 2007 06:34:39 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-612137 I am a passionate booklover and so I am inclined to be dismayed by what appears to be a decline in the love of reading by my children and their contemporaries. However when I look closely I see that although they do not always have their nose in a book as I did, they are constantly reading... My son actually learned how to read (and do arithmetic) by playing Pokemon. He progressed to RPGs and then to the manuals for the games and then to the literature that inspired the games. My daughter became literate through online chats with her drama queen friends and then progressed to drama and now loves theatre. It took them some time to learn standard English spelling but now they are proficient and completely hooked on reading. They came to it by a different path but the point is that they got there. I am a passionate booklover and so I am inclined to be dismayed by what appears to be a decline in the love of reading by my children and their contemporaries. However when I look closely I see that although they do not always have their nose in a book as I did, they are constantly reading… My son actually learned how to read (and do arithmetic) by playing Pokemon. He progressed to RPGs and then to the manuals for the games and then to the literature that inspired the games. My daughter became literate through online chats with her drama queen friends and then progressed to drama and now loves theatre. It took them some time to learn standard English spelling but now they are proficient and completely hooked on reading. They came to it by a different path but the point is that they got there.

]]> By: Tom Messner http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-606534 Tom Messner Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:33:32 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-606534 Ans even the writers are not writing. Check out www.grownassmen.tv to see the full effect of the writer's strike which, when added to the reader's strike which has become apparently pandemic, means that mcluhan was right as usual... Ans even the writers are not writing.
Check out
www.grownassmen.tv
to see the full effect of the writer’s strike
which, when added to the reader’s strike which has become apparently pandemic,
means that
mcluhan
was right as usual…

]]> By: The Copywriter's Crucible http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-605182 The Copywriter's Crucible Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:09:22 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-605182 <strong>Can You Write Shorter and Simpler?</strong> As shocking as it might be to some writers, not everybody reads regularly. In fact, most stop reading books after they’ve left school. It’s questionable whether some even started. Many would suggest that TV and other modern distractions ar... Can You Write Shorter and Simpler?

As shocking as it might be to some writers, not everybody reads regularly.
In fact, most stop reading books after they’ve left school. It’s questionable whether some even started.
Many would suggest that TV and other modern distractions ar…

]]> By: Kelja http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-601180 Kelja Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:45:45 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-601180 To those who don't think reading is dead: you surround yourself with like-minded people (those who read extensively) and, hence, do not see the reality. Most of the country and the world either can't read or do not care to read. 50 years of awful, politically-correct public education has dumbed down our children. There are exceptions to be sure - my 2nd grade daughter reads and spells at a 6th grade level (she's in private school) - but she's the exception. I see many high schoolers that are functional illiterates, or read at below 3rd grade levels. And this is in 'good' school districts. Books, at least serious, thoughtful ones, are in serious decline. Thoughtful & reasoned debate is gone from the scene as well. To those who don’t think reading is dead: you surround yourself with like-minded people (those who read extensively) and, hence, do not see the reality.

Most of the country and the world either can’t read or do not care to read. 50 years of awful, politically-correct public education has dumbed down our children. There are exceptions to be sure - my 2nd grade daughter reads and spells at a 6th grade level (she’s in private school) - but she’s the exception. I see many high schoolers that are functional illiterates, or read at below 3rd grade levels. And this is in ‘good’ school districts.

Books, at least serious, thoughtful ones, are in serious decline. Thoughtful & reasoned debate is gone from the scene as well.

]]> By: Tom Messner http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-600971 Tom Messner Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:27:40 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-600971 Interesting ad from the 1970s: "Marshall McLuhan said the printed word is obsolete. To prove it, he wrote 16 books." Interesting ad from the 1970s:
“Marshall McLuhan said the printed word is obsolete. To prove it, he
wrote 16 books.”

]]> By: Bob Bly http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-598405 Bob Bly Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:59:49 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-598405 Dianna: as you know, I love audio learning. Having said that, yes, I think reading means the printed page, not audio, DVD, or even the Internet. Each is a different learning mode with its pros and cons. Reading requires a sustained concentration that watching and listening do not. It also forces the reader to contribute more: the narrator of an audio can convey emotion with tone of voice, a tool not available on the printed page. Dianna: as you know, I love audio learning. Having said that, yes, I think reading means the printed page, not audio, DVD, or even the Internet. Each is a different learning mode with its pros and cons. Reading requires a sustained concentration that watching and listening do not. It also forces the reader to contribute more: the narrator of an audio can convey emotion with tone of voice, a tool not available on the printed page.

]]> By: Dianna Huff http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-597071 Dianna Huff Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:09:43 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-597071 Does reading necessarily mean reading the printed page? My son and I have been listening to books on CD. We just finished The Secret Life of Bees and are now listening to, The Strange Incident of the Dog in the Night. Both are fabulous books and we're both enjoying listening to them. Are we getting the same value as we would have with reading? Does reading necessarily mean reading the printed page? My son and I have been listening to books on CD. We just finished The Secret Life of Bees and are now listening to, The Strange Incident of the Dog in the Night.

Both are fabulous books and we’re both enjoying listening to them. Are we getting the same value as we would have with reading?

]]> By: Dave http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-596805 Dave Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:51:29 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/general/is-reading-dead-2/#comment-596805 I think it all comes down to the parents. I'm the father of a 7-year old, and while I'm in the business of marketing online, I try to make sure he reads something (offline) each day. My wife is great at encouraging reading, which definitely helps. That being said, whenever he asks me something I can't answer (which seems to happen more and more frequently as he gets older) the first place I look is Google. Perhaps it's just a question of moderation. I think it all comes down to the parents. I’m the father of a 7-year old, and while I’m in the business of marketing online, I try to make sure he reads something (offline) each day. My wife is great at encouraging reading, which definitely helps.

That being said, whenever he asks me something I can’t answer (which seems to happen more and more frequently as he gets older) the first place I look is Google.

Perhaps it’s just a question of moderation.

]]>