Slow Reading

Just as the slow food movement rebels against the mediocrity and impersonal nature of fast food, Miedema (student, Master of Library and Information program, U. of Western Ontario) agues that speed reading turns readers into knowledge/wisdom tourists. The information technology specialist makes a cogent case for reflective reading and the solid place of the printed book in today's accelerated, digital information environment. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Slow Reading examines the research in voluntary slow reading, from the earliest references in religion and philosophy, to the practice of close reading in the humanities, and the recent swell of interest associated with the Slow Movement. It looks at the diverse angles from which slow reading has been approached in education, library sciences and media studies. Research in psychology and neurophysiology provides a tentative explanation for the ongoing role of slow reading. The theme of locality in the Slow Movement provides insight into the importance of physical location in our relationship with information. Most of all, Slow Reading represents a rediscovery of the pleasure of reading for its own sake.