A young man at Barnes and Nobles Book Store today picked up the new Harry Potter book and said to his wife. “It’s way too thick!”
He then stacked the book back on the shelf and headed off to a technology section. That scene made me wonder … Will Harry Potter’s books increase people’s linguistic intelligence? 
Laura Bush claims that Harry Potter motivates kids to read. Could it restore reading literacy to the many adults who miss promotions at work because they lack literary skills?
Or are linguistic skills less important to our computer literate society .. and maybe not as connected to the Potter hoopla as we think?
In either case... do check out the buzz over at KnowMoreMedia there's a lot more going on about Harry Potter.
Harry Potter shows up in Soho
Harry Potter destroys Amazon.com!
Publishing Spotted: Potter Poetry, Second Secrets and B-Believing
Will Buzz Marketing Hurt Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
Could You Create a Harry Potter or a Theory?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow's - J K Rowling's Spoiler
P-Day - Harry Potter and Midnight Madness
Harry Potter and the Parallel Internet World - Even Fans have Fans
Harry Potter's Midnight Madness Arrives Early
Ready for the big answer?
This is the million-dollar question I wish someone would answer to my satisfaction. Getting kids (and adults) to read is great - I'm all for it. But what if all they read is Harry Potter? What can you learn about the real world from that?
Fantasy and imagination are important to develop, and do these books ever help with that! But in an increasingly technically-minded society, what long-term good will they bring to the table? At the very least, a balance must be found.
Posted by: Robert Hruzek | July 24, 2007 7:29 AM | Permalink to Comment