Reader's Block: A History of Reading Differences

Matthew Rubery's exploration of the influence neurodivergence has on the ways individuals read challenges the concept of a single definition and suggests that there are multiple ways of reading. He argues that reading should be understood as a spectrum that accommodates the full range of activities documented in the book, rather than as a single activity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Reading is a complex and multifaceted process that has been shaped by a wide range of factors, including neurodiversity. Matthew Rubery's exploration of the influence neurodivergence has on the ways individuals read challenges the notion that there is a single, universal definition of reading. Instead, he presents an alternative history of reading that tells the stories of atypical readers and the impact that neurological conditions such as dyslexia, hyperlexia, alexia, synesthesia, hallucinations, and dementia have had on their lives.

Rubery's focus on neurodiversity aims to transform our understanding of the very concept of reading. He draws on personal testimonies gathered from literature, film, life writing, social media, medical case studies, and other sources to express how cognitive differences have shaped people's experiences both on and off the page. Rubery contends that there is no single activity known as reading, but rather, multiple ways of reading (and, for that matter, not reading). He challenges us to rethink what it means to read and proposes that we should call this activity "reading."

Reader's Block is a fascinating and highly original book that offers a new perspective on reading. It moves toward an understanding of reading as a spectrum that is capacious enough to accommodate the full range of activities documented in the book. Whether you read it from cover to cover, out of sequence, or piecemeal, the important thing is that you engage with the material and do something with it. Rubery suggests that reading should be a participatory and creative activity that allows us to explore new ideas, perspectives, and worlds.

In conclusion, reading is a complex and multifaceted process that has been shaped by a wide range of factors, including neurodiversity. Matthew Rubery's exploration of the influence neurodivergence has on the ways individuals read challenges the notion of a single, universal definition of reading and presents an alternative history of reading that tells the stories of atypical readers and the impact that neurological conditions have had on their lives. Reader's Block offers a new perspective on reading as a spectrum that is capacious enough to accommodate the full range of activities documented in the book. By engaging with the material and doing something with it, we can explore new ideas, perspectives, and worlds and expand our understanding of the world around us.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503632493