The Enchanted Hour

The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction

By: Meghan Cox Gurdon

Narrated by: Meghan Cox Gurdon

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

A Wall Street Journal writer’s conversation-changing look at how reading aloud makes adults and children smarter, happier, healthier, more successful, and more closely attached, even as technology pulls in the other direction.

A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another, transforming the simple stuff of a book, a voice, and a bit of time into complex and powerful fuel for the heart, brain, and imagination. Grounded in the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, and drawing widely from literature, The Enchanted Hour explains the dazzling cognitive and social-emotional benefits that await children, whatever their class, nationality, or family background. But it’s not just about bedtime stories for little kids: Reading aloud consoles, uplifts, and invigorates at every age, deepening the intellectual lives and emotional well-being of teenagers and adults, too.

Meghan Cox Gurdon argues this ancient practice is a fast-working antidote to the fractured attention spans, atomized families, and unfulfilling ephemera of the tech era, helping to replenish what our devices are leaching away. For everyone, reading aloud engages the mind in complex narratives; for children, it’s an irreplaceable gift that builds vocabulary, fosters imagination, and kindles a lifelong appreciation of language, stories, and pictures.

Bringing together the latest scientific research, practical tips, and reading recommendations, The Enchanted Hour will both charm and galvanize, inspiring listeners to share this invaluable, life-altering tradition with the people they love most.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio

©2019 Meghan Cox Gurdon (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Remember! Just read to them.

Was skeptical. But, before I finished this book. I have already purchased 2 books to read to my daughter. 💕 and recommend to 3-4 other of my friends with children.

The Handbook for Why We Do Read Alouds

Loved, loved this book! I like that the author included all the research to back up what she was saying. I will definitely be getting the paperwork version as well to refer back to. Excellent read!

Life Changing!

As a home school mom of over 20 years, I have always known that reading aloud to children and teens has a lot of benefits. As a matter of fact, my favorite curriculum, Sonlight has both readers and read alouds. A few years ago, I was also introduced to a program called Read Aloud Revival which had tons of important information and lists of books recommended. This book though, has so much research that solidifies how important it is to take time to read aloud to your children, your teens, your grandchildren, and even your spouse and your elderly parents or grandparents. This truly is a must read to everyone breathing.

READ ALOUD TO YOUR FAMILY

Wonderful book about the importance and benefits of reading aloud! I will read more to my kids!

So truthful!!

Such a great reminder to be present in the lives of our loved ones! How something so simple is ingrained in our humanity bcuz it feeds our souls.

Such a convicting book!!

This book is an incredible parenting book, teacher education book, and book for human beings no matter who you are! I bought the hard copy to write in and underline it was so good. The authors “voices” and accents while reading literature snippets come across as silly and cringe worthy at times but not enough to taint my opinion that everyone should listen to/read this book!!

Reignite your love for read alouds

Fantastic performance! Highly engaging and well researched. I highly recommend this book for parents and caregivers of children of all ages.

Excellent! Well researched & presented!

Meghan Cox Gurdon did an extraordinary job researching and presenting the tremendous amount of information that EVERY adult who interacts with children should read! My husband and I read to our child every day from the day he was born until he was almost in high school. I loved every book but especially credit the Redwall series of books by Brian Jacques (whom we met in person TWICE) for my son's expansive vocabulary as he started elementary school--and besides, it is a wonderful tale! If you are a parent or educator, you will not be sorry you took time to acquire and ingest this tome!

All the Feels for The Enchanted Hour

As a mom who read aloud when my sons were younger, as a teacher and grandmother today who grabs every read aloud moment possible, this book was balm to my soul in this distracted cluttered age in which we live. There is far more to this book than I ever dreamed possible. I listened to the Audible while painting rooms in my house. I loved it so much, I ordered the physical book.

A wonderful book!

Loved this book! Have already recommended it. I have always read to my daughter but hearing all the research on the benefits of reading aloud is just wonderful!