Gist of Reading

Books live in our long-term memory, and literary influence works on writers in different ways. Reading arises from automatic and controlled processes, with automatic processes being the result of constant practice and controlled processes being the result of readers' conscious use of skills and background knowledge. The gist of reading is created by the interplay between these two kinds of processes, and understanding gist is central to interpreting the social, psychological, and political impact of literary works.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 16 January 2018
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Reading is a complex process that involves both automatic and controlled processes. Automatic processes, such as the ability to see visual symbols as words, are the result of constant practice and are essential for reading comprehension. Controlled processes, such as predicting what might occur next in a story, arise from readers' conscious use of skills and background knowledge. When we read, automatic and controlled processes work together to create the gist of reading, the constant interplay between these two kinds of processes.

Andrew Elfenbein's book, "Reading in the Long-Term Memory: Why Books Live and Others Don't," amends classic reader-response theory and attends to neglected aspects of reading that cannot be explained by traditional literary criticism. He argues that understanding gist is central to interpreting the social, psychological, and political impact of literary works. The result is the first major revisionary account of reading practices in literary criticism since the 1970s.

Elfenbein's book explores how reading is influenced by automatic and controlled processes. Automatic processes are the result of constant practice and are essential for reading comprehension. Controlled processes are the result of readers' conscious use of skills and background knowledge and are essential for predicting what might occur next in a story. When we read, automatic and controlled processes work together to create the gist of reading, the constant interplay between these two kinds of processes.

Elfenbein's book also considers readers of past centuries and argues that understanding gist is central to interpreting the social, psychological, and political impact of literary works. He provides a comprehensive overview of reading practices in literary criticism and offers new insights into how readers interact with literary works.

In conclusion, reading is a complex process that involves both automatic and controlled processes. Automatic processes are the result of constant practice and are essential for reading comprehension, while controlled processes are the result of readers' conscious use of skills and background knowledge and are essential for predicting what might occur next in a story. Elfenbein's book, "Reading in the Long-Term Memory: Why Books Live and Others Don't," amends classic reader-response theory and attends to neglected aspects of reading that cannot be explained by traditional literary criticism. It provides a comprehensive overview of reading practices in literary criticism and offers new insights into how readers interact with literary works.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 162 x 237 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503602564