Paperback
Embrace inarticulacy: finding power in speech impediments and creativity.

Words Fail Us

In Defence of Disfluency

$25.90

  • Paperback

    352 pages

  • Release Date

    31 May 2022

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Summary

‘TIMELY’ - David Mitchell ‘OPEN-MINDED, THOUGHTFUL AND WISE… A LIBERATING BOOK’ - Colm Toibin

In an age of polished TED talks and overconfident political oratory, success seems to depend upon charismatic public speaking. But what if hyper-fluency is not only unachievable but undesirable?

Jonty Claypole spent fifteen years of his life in and out of extreme speech therapy. From sessions with child psychologists to lengthy stuttering boot camps a…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781788161725
ISBN-10:1788161726
Author:Jonty Claypole
Publisher:Profile Books Ltd
Imprint:Wellcome Collection
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:352
Release Date:31 May 2022
Weight:280g
Dimensions:26mm x 128mm x 198mm
A-Format
B-Format
Words Fail Us by Jonty Claypole - ISBN: 9781788161725
128 × 198 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

‘A moving study of stuttering…remarkable’ - Helen Davies

‘Words Fail Us is a deep dive into disfluency, exploring its history, its science, its politics and its profile in a fluency-obsessed world. Jonty Claypole’s book is timely, thoughtful, rich in fact and personal anecdote, and looks to a more enlightened, speech-diverse future.’ - David Mitchell

‘Comprehensive, open-minded, thoughtful and wise … a liberating book.’ - Colm Toibin

‘Words Fail Us is one of those rare books - a piece of writing and thinking I hadn’t realised I’d been waiting for until I read it. In this thoughtful and moving exploration of disfluency Jonty Claypole has written both a wonderfully engaging study on the history, causes and societal perceptions of speech disorders and an acutely argued call to arms, not just for the wider acceptance of communication diversity but also for an embracing of the creativity and originality of thought it can inspire.’ - Owen Sheers

‘Humane, thought-provoking, and rich in experiential detail.’ - Guardian

About The Author

Jonty Claypole

Jonty Claypole is an arts leader, producer, and writer. He received an MBE for his role supporting British culture through the pandemic.

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