Better Than Life - Softcover

Pennac, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0889104999 ISBN 13: 9780889104990

Publisher: Coach House Pr, 1994

Synopsis

In this entertaining and illuminating little book, French writer Daniel Pennac identifies the ways that well-meaning parents and teachers unintentionally quash their children's joy of reading and offers simple, practical, inspired suggestions to restoring that joy. "Highly recommended."--Library Journal.

About this title

From Library Journal

A best seller in France last year, this is a collection of short essays and reflections on reading and the reader by a former teacher. Pennac indulges in a sometimes philosophical, yet simple and practical reasoning that addresses many of our attitudes toward reading. He attempts to demystify the traditional, mostly school-rooted conception of knowing how to read. He goes so far as offering a "Reader's Bill of Rights," which guarantees, among other things, the right to reread, skip pages, not to have to defend your taste, and even not to read at all. Reading behavior in general, and youth and reading in particular, are prominent in his analysis. He points out that when it comes to reading, modern youth are often considered lazy and spoiled by the easier access to other media; by contrast, reading would seem to be a Sisyphean task. Pennac thus calls for a change in attitude toward reading. His style is witty and masterly, and the result will provide entertaining and engrossing reading. Highly recommended for most libraries.
Ali Houissa, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Coach House Pr
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0889104999
• ISBN 13: 9780889104990
• Binding: Paperback