More Than Words

How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World

De: Maryellen MacDonald PhD

Narrado por: Maryellen MacDonald PhD

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 isn’t 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 talker’s 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.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing the end notes from the printed book.

Very interesting but the author should not have narrated too

Excellent information and very interesting. Not the typical linguistics approach but informative nonetheless
The only downside was the authors sing songie narration. Sometimes she doesn’t do it but more often than not she gets a bit much and it distracts. She should have someone else do the reading.
Overall very good though and worth a listen