"Why are some people drawn into reading, pulled as if by magnetic force into distant worlds or intellectual explorations? And why are others repelled by reading, incapable of focusing their attention long enough to create vivid images in their minds or grasp complex concepts? Speaking of Reading presents seventy-seven lively, poignant, and inspiring personal responses to the query: "What is your reading history, and how does your reading affect the rest of your life?"" "Written in the tradition of Studs Terkel, this book uses oral histories to bring you directly into the worlds of many diverse readers. Sprinkled throughout are narratives of nationally recognized personalities such as writers Maxine Hong-Kingston, Isabel Allende, Julie Harris, Gloria Steinem, and Robert MacNeil." "Speaking of Reading invites us to think about our own reading histories and the crucial role reading plays in our lives. Nadine Rosenthal provides substantial insight into reading and the reading process, and offers avid readers a plea: Become a reading mentor. While she explains how to come to the aid of an infrequent reader, her subjects make it clear why it is important to pass the love of reading along to others."--Jacket.