Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Of Grammatology summary
Jacques Derrida
The Foundations of Language, Writing, and Meaning
16 mins
Brief summary
Of Grammatology deconstructs the relationship between language and meaning, challenging traditional assumptions in Western philosophy. Jacques Derrida unveils how writing influences thought, shaping our understanding of concepts and reality itself.
Topics
Table of Contents
Of Grammatology
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Flipping the hierarchy
Think about how you learned language as a child. First you listened, then you spoke, and finally you wrote. This order seems natural and obvious.
For thousands of years, philosophers and linguists saw writing as just a tool for recording speech – a kind of technical backup system for our words. Speech felt pure and natural, while writing seemed artificial and secondary.
But Derrida noticed something strange. When you say a word like tree, its meaning comes from how it differs from other words like bush or flower. In other words, you understand what a tree is partly by understanding what it isn't.
This system of differences exists before you ever speak the word. In fact, it has to exist first, or the word wouldn't mean anything at all.
Here's an example to make this clearer: Imagine you're in a foreign country where you don't speak the language. You see two locals having a conversation. Even though you can hear their speech perfectly, it means nothing to you.
That's because you don't have access to the system of differences that gives their words meaning. This system – this network of relationships between sounds and concepts – is what Derrida calls "writing" in its deepest sense.
Think about how you're reading these words right now. Each letter and word only works because it's different from other letters and words. The letter 'A' is only 'A' because it's not 'B' or 'C'. This system of differences comes before any actual speaking or writing. It's like the rules of a game that have to exist before you can play.
This insight turns everything upside down. What we usually call writing, or making marks on paper, is just one visible form of a much bigger system. This larger system of differences and relationships makes all meaning possible. It comes before speech, before writing, before everything. It's not just about language — it's about how our minds make sense of the world.
When you understand this, you start seeing it everywhere. Every thought you have, every word you speak, every meaning you understand depends on this hidden system of differences. Speech isn't more natural or immediate than writing — both are part of this larger system that makes meaning itself possible.
Want to see all full key ideas from Of Grammatology?
Key ideas in Of Grammatology
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Of Grammatology about?
Of Grammatology (1967) overturns basic assumptions about writing and speech, uncovering that writing isn't just a tool for recording words but a fundamental system that makes all meaning possible. This revolutionary work became one of the cornerstones of poststructuralist thought, changing how we understand language, knowledge, and meaning-making across philosophy, literature, and cultural studies.
Who should read Of Grammatology?
- Anyone fascinated by how digital technology is changing how we read, write, and communicate
- Linguists and language lovers curious about the relationship between speech and writing
- Those curious about how meaning works across different forms of expression, from architecture to emojis
Categories with Of Grammatology
Book summaries like Of Grammatology
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.8 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth