Literacy Myths, Legacies, and Lessons

"This collection of Graff's essays describes and justifies literacy in ways that consider traditional as well as newly recognized, technological views of literacy. For example, beyond commonly established definitions, Graff posits that in the Global South, competence in native languages constitutes as genuine a literacy as competence in well-established world languages. Nearly one-third of the book is devoted to restating and justifying the concept of the literacy myth-a critique of literacy as the "precursor to... economic development, democratic practice, cognitive enhancement and upward mobility"... Recommended." - R. Roth, CHOICE "Harvey Graff's own research accompanies surveys of the field and writings of the last three decades, and crosses disciplines in adding historical and cultural notes in an analysis any college-level collection will consider timely and valuable." - The Midwest Book Review "This is a succinct text for understanding a historical and current view of literacy studies that challenges the ongoing ideologies. Graff's recapitulation of the history of literacy studies over the past 30-plus years provides a timely segue into grappling with key issues of our own day and into the future, particularly in light of the dramatic influence of web-based technologies and of the proliferation of the term 'literacy' as applied to any disciplinary set of skills and understandings... It urges us to critically examine our assumptions and to renegotiate our understanding of what is meant by reading and writing in the face of multiple, contextualized literacies and discourses in society." - Anita Charles, Critical Inquiry in Language Studies: An International Journal "Graff's examination of the ambiguous meanings and uses of literacy should be pondered by educators, policymakers, and others concerned with the issue today." - Michael B. Katz, University of Pennsylvania

Harvey J. Graff is Ohio Eminent Scholar in Literacy Studies and professor of English and history at Ohio State University. He is widely known for his work on the history of literacy. Some of his works include The Literacy Myth, National Literacy Campaigns and Movements, The Labyrinths of Literacy, Conflicting Paths: Growing Up in America, and The Dallas Myth.