--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The new illiteracy is about more than not…" description: "\"The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to read the book or the word; it is about not knowing how to read the world...\" — Henry Giroux" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png" --- # The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to… ![“The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to read the book or the word; it is about not knowing how to read the world...” quote by Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png) > “The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to read the book or the word; it is about not knowing how to read the world...” [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern illiteracy is not just reading text but interpreting societal symbols and contexts. **In simple terms:** Understanding the world is essential. Key Takeaway Learn to read cultural cues. Themes education literacy critical thinking Mood critical analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - media consumption - social interaction - political discourse Key Concepts semiotics media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret visual media? - What symbols shape your worldview? A Different Perspective Reading alone doesn't guarantee comprehension of complex realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Illiteracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illiteracy/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-books/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“In an alleged democracy, the image of the public sphere with its appeal to dialogue and shared responsibility has given way to the spectacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-giroux/in-an-alleged-democracy-the-image-of-the-public-sphere-with-its/) [Henry A. Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-giroux/) > [The worst form of illiteracy is not knowing how to read the signs of your creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navaid-aziz/the-worst-form-of-illiteracy-is-not-knowing-how-to-read-the-signs-of/) [Navaid Aziz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navaid-aziz/) > [Kids not only need to read a lot but they need lots of books they can read right at their fingertips.They also need access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allington/kids-not-only-need-to-read-a-lot-but-they-need-lots-of-books-they-can/) [Richard Allington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allington/) > [I learned to read from Mrs. Augusta Baker, the children's librarian. ... If that was the only good deed that lady ever did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-learned-to-read-from-mrs-augusta-baker-the-children-s-librarian-if/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [The fact of knowing how to read is nothing, the whole point is knowing what to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-fact-of-knowing-how-to-read-is-nothing-the-whole-point-is-knowing/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [I realize, of course, that I wasn't born knowing how to read. I just can't imagine a time when I didn't know how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/i-realize-of-course-that-i-wasn-t-born-knowing-how-to-read-i-just-can/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [You can tell a man's taste in literature by his judgment in knowing what not to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/you-can-tell-a-man-s-taste-in-literature-by-his-judgment-in-knowing/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Obviously I had gone all through high school and into college, and you don't do that not knowing how to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/obviously-i-had-gone-all-through-high-school-and-into-college-and-you/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [“Being able to read and knowing how to read are completely different concepts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-garcia/being-able-to-read-and-knowing-how-to-read-are-completely-different/) S.A. Garcia > [“I don't know what's more tragic, knowing how to read and choosing not to, or not knowing how to read and refusing to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-goldbach/i-don-t-know-what-s-more-tragic-knowing-how-to-read-and-choosing-not/) Patricia Goldbach > [By now, everyone I know is one of seven strangers, inevitably hoping to represent a predefined demographic and always failing horribly. The Read World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/by-now-everyone-i-know-is-one-of-seven-strangers-inevitably-hoping-to/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“I believe it’s fine to give up books even after a page; there’s so much to read in the world that will delight you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-believe-it-s-fine-to-give-up-books-even-after-a-page-there-s-so/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I have a shelf of comfort books, which I read when the world closes in on me or something untoward happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/i-have-a-shelf-of-comfort-books-which-i-read-when-the-world-closes-in/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [It is one thing to read about the world, but quite another to see and hear for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-travers/it-is-one-thing-to-read-about-the-world-but-quite-another-to-see-and/) [Mary Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-travers/) > [I try to read as much as I can. I try to read an informative article every day. I try to stay read up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-try-to-read-as-much-as-i-can-i-try-to-read-an-informative-article/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## More by Henry Giroux > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [As politics is disconnected from its ethical and material moorings, it becomes easier to punish and imprison young people than to educate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-politics-is-disconnected-from-its-ethical-and-material-moorings-it/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [What must be addressed in the most immediate sense is the threat that the emerging police state in the United States poses not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/what-must-be-addressed-in-the-most-immediate-sense-is-the-threat-that/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Today's neoliberalism has a number of byproducts. We have massive forms of inequality developing because there are no longer any concessions. There's a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/today-s-neoliberalism-has-a-number-of-byproducts-we-have-massive/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [At the start of the second decade of the 21st century, young people all over the world are demonstrating against a variety of issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/at-the-start-of-the-second-decade-of-the-21st-century-young-people/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [America is at war with itself because it's basically declared war not only on any sense of democratic idealism, but it's declared war on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/america-is-at-war-with-itself-because-it-s-basically-declared-war-not/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [All too often the worst thing that can happen to the young is to depoliticize them. When that happens, not only are young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/all-too-often-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-the-young-is-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The generation of youth in the early 21st century has no way of grasping if they will ever be free from the gnawing sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-generation-of-youth-in-the-early-21st-century-has-no-way-of/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [History remains an open horizon that cannot be dismissed through appeals to the end of history or end of ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/history-remains-an-open-horizon-that-cannot-be-dismissed-through/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [I mean, we're not talking about simply racism, we're taking about white supremacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/i-mean-we-re-not-talking-about-simply-racism-we-re-taking-about-white/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Historical memory is a potent weapon in fighting against the desert of organized forgetting and implies a rethinking of the role that artists, intellectuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/historical-memory-is-a-potent-weapon-in-fighting-against-the-desert/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The fight for education and justice is inseparable from the struggle for economic equality, human dignity and security, and the challenge of developing American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-fight-for-education-and-justice-is-inseparable-from-the-struggle/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If the ongoing struggles waged by young people are to matter, demonstrations and protests must give way to more sustainable organizations that develop alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/if-the-ongoing-struggles-waged-by-young-people-are-to-matter/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Many conservatives see higher education as a threat to their reactionary and corporate oriented interests and would like to defund higher education, privatize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/many-conservatives-see-higher-education-as-a-threat-to-their/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Everyone is now a customer or client, and every relationship is ultimately judged in bottom-line, cost-effective terms. Freedom is no longer about equality, social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/everyone-is-now-a-customer-or-client-and-every-relationship-is/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) [Explore all 323 Henry Giroux quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to read the book or the word; it is about not knowing how to read the world...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Giroux" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-not-knowing-how-to-read-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-not-knowing-how-to-read-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/henry-giroux-945_book_the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-no_2966220.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The new illiteracy is about more than not knowing how to read the book or the word; it is about not knowing…” — Henry Giroux", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Giroux", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The new illiteracy is about more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-not-knowing-how-to-read-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-new-illiteracy-is-about-more-than-not-knowing-how-to-read-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```