Ourselves

by Frank Smith

This book delves into how we come to terms with ourselves, with other people, and with the world in general. It is about how we come to be what we are, and to think the way we do. It is a book about influences on this process. A particular influence to which Smith gives central consideration is language, not just in terms of the communicative networks in which it engages us--the “information” that presents itself to us--but in the largely unsuspected framework for thought that lies within language itself. He also considers deeply the role of technology.

This is a book of description, not of explanations--these are two quite different intellectual territories. Smith writes about what can be observed, not philosophized about. Thus he does not discuss the inner workings of the human brain. His claim is that what he is interested in--thinking, learning, understanding, remembering--have never been found in the brain. The aim is to describe the scope and limits for how we can be seen to think, learn, understand, and remember--but not to “explain” such behavior by recourse to hypothetical inner entities.

Ourselves speaks especially to educators. It outlines the possibilities and limitations inherent in all of us. It delineates who we are, but also stresses that no two people are the same, that what we become depends on our journeys in life and the people we encounter on the way. The formal part of learning that is called education is particularly sensitive to the role of people who organize critical experiences for us, our teachers. The brief summaries at the end of each chapter reinforce and highlight points that are of particular relevance to teachers.
Researchers, professionals, and graduate students across the fields of literacy education, psychology of reading, learning theory, human learning, educational psychology, and psycholinguistics will find this book compelling.

136 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2006

About the author

Frank Smith was a psycholinguist recognized for his contributions in linguistics and cognitive psychology. He was contributor to research on the nature of the reading process together with researchers such as George Armitage Miller, Kenneth S. Goodman (see Ken Goodman), Paul A. Kolers, Jane W. Torrey, Jane Mackworth, Richard Venezky, Robert Calfee, and Julian Hochberg. Smith and Goodman were singled out as originators of the modern psycholinguistic approach to reading instruction.

Reviews

[Jmswtsn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, reads like a thought experiment, but really delves into how the brain actually works, and how learning and understanding is inseparable from personal growth.

Not quite as good as his "Book of Learning and Forgetting," but still good.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a had-to-read-for-coursework book and the guys ideas are very inconsistent with (my) reality!

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theory Lite!

[Ahmed Chicktay · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual Frank has broadened my mind, in his clear and insightful thinking.