A psychologist explores how talking shapes our attention, memory, learning and even mental health, revealing its surprising impacts on cognition, education and aging, from goal-setting and political polarization to slowing cognitive decline.
The groundbreaking science of how and why we talk, and how this ability impacts every area of our lives
Humans are the only species that can transform internal ideas into talk, whether through speech, writing, or sign language. But why do we have this almost magical, special talent? It turns out that while talking allows us to share ideas and connect with one another, it isnt just for communication. Other benefits of talking stem from the fact that it is hard work: we can understand speech up to 50 percent faster than we can create it ourselves. The complex processes in the brain that allow us to talk spill over and impact other areas of our lives in surprising ways. In this groundbreaking book, Maryellen MacDonald, a researcher and psycholinguist, explores the marvel and mental task of talking and offers an eye-opening look at how it shapes everything from our attention, memory, and the way we learn to how we regulate our emotions and our cognitive health as we age. Filled with fascinating insights, More Than Words reveals:
how languages all over the world bend to the demands of talking
how talking helps us set goals and acts as a learning engine
the link between speech patterns and mental illness
why conversations in classrooms are crucial
how talking can amplify the talkers political polarization
how talking can slow cognitive decline as we age
Engaging and illuminating, More Than Words has lessons that have the power to transform education policy, parenting, psychology, and more. It is a sweeping and provocative look at a fundamental human behavior we take for granted.
