Reader, Come Home Book Summary - Reader, Come Home Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Reader, Come Home summary

Maryanne Wolf

The Reading Brain in a Digital World

4.6 (244 ratings)
23 mins

Brief summary

Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf explores how the digital age is changing the way we read and think. It argues that we must rekindle our love for deep reading for the sake of personal and societal wellbeing.

Topics
Table of Contents

    Reader, Come Home
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    Reading is a skill that we learn as our brains develop rather than an innate ability.

    The human brain is a miraculous machine capable of all sorts of astounding feats. Some of that is innate: we’re born with genes that allow our bodies and minds to acquire certain natural abilities without needing to be taught them. Most people, for example, enter the world with an inborn ability to see and hear, as well as with an astounding ability to pick up language. Just think of the sponge-like manner in which children learn to speak by aping the sounds uttered by those around them. 

    Reading is an entirely different matter. Unlike speaking, it isn’t hardwired into the brain. That makes it much more like our ability to understand and manipulate numbers: it’s a cultural invention rather than an innate trait. And our ancestors only started reading 6,000 years ago, making it a pretty recent addition to the cognitive toolkit in the grand scheme of human evolution. So how exactly did they – and how do we – learn to read? 

    To answer that question, we need to get into the nitty-gritty of neuroscience. As we learn to read, the brain develops a new network specifically designed for that task. That’s a product of the brain’s neuroplasticity – its ability to rearrange and reroute existing neuronal networks to create entirely new ones. 

    This kind of cerebral construction work is a constant throughout our lives. The brain is always linking up cell clusters in novel ways. Each cluster within these configurations simultaneously works to support a budding skill like reading. That, in turn, creates a new network. That process is expedited by the brain’s ability to draw on established networks which perform adjacent functions. Reading, for example, draws on cell clusters associated with language and vision. 

    But because networks are created in response to specific needs rather than being drawn from some kind of mental masterplan, we all develop slightly different neuronal networks. What they end up looking like depends on what we’re reading and which language we’re using. That means the circuitry in the head of someone who reads in characters like a Chinese speaker will be wired differently to that of someone who’s used to an alphabet, like an English or Arabic speaker. 

    Neuroplasticity also means that our ability to read changes over time. In the following blinks, we’ll see how it’s changing in response to the digital age.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Reader, Come Home?

    Key ideas in Reader, Come Home

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Reader, Come Home about?

    Reader, Come Home (2018) is a meditation on the future of reading in the age of digital revolution and diminishing attention spans. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific research, Maryanne Wolf unpacks the cultural and cognitive dimensions of a technological transformation that’s reshaped our relationship with the written word. At the heart of her investigation is a question whose answer will determine how our societies will look in the future: What will reading mean to our children, a generation which has never known a world without Google, smartphones and e-books?

    Reader, Come Home Review

    Reader, Come Home (2018) by Maryanne Wolf is an insightful exploration of the impact of digital technology on our reading habits and cognitive processes. Here's what makes this book a must-read:

    • It presents a research-based analysis of how reading in the digital age affects our ability to concentrate, empathize, and think critically.
    • Through compelling examples and personal stories, Wolf illustrates the profound importance of reading deeply for intellectual and emotional development.
    • The book offers practical strategies and solutions to help readers regain their focus, deepen their understanding, and rediscover the joy of reading.

    Who should read Reader, Come Home?

    • Bibliophiles who wonder why it’s gotten so hard to focus on reading
    • E-readers nostalgic about yesteryear’s paper-and-ink books 
    • Parents worried about their children’s use of digital devices

    About the Author

    Maryanne Wolf is the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University and the co-founder of Curious Learning: A Global Literacy Project. She is the author of more than 160 scientific publications as well as two books on reading, Proust and the Squid and Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century. She is the director of UCLA’s Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners and Social Justice.

    Categories with Reader, Come Home

    Book summaries like Reader, Come Home

    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

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    30 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Reader, Come Home FAQs 

    What is the main message of Reader, Come Home?

    The main message of Reader, Come Home is the importance of reconnecting with deep reading in the digital age.

    How long does it take to read Reader, Come Home?

    The reading time for Reader, Come Home varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Reader, Come Home a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Reader, Come Home is a thought-provoking and insightful book, definitely worth reading for anyone interested in the impacts of technology on reading.

    Who is the author of Reader, Come Home?

    The author of Reader, Come Home is Maryanne Wolf.

    What to read after Reader, Come Home?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Reader, Come Home, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf
    • I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel
    • 10 Days to Faster Reading by The Princeton Language Institute and Abby Marks Beale
    • 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
    • Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse
    • Effective Decision-Making by Edoardo Binda Zane
    • The Iliad by Homer
    • The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker
    • At Home by Bill Bryson
    • Breaking The Page by Peter Meyers