The healing power of reading | Michelle Kuo

Reading and writing can be acts of courage that bring us closer to others and ourselves. Author Michelle Kuo shares how teaching reading skills to her students in the Mississippi Delta revealed the bridging power of the written word -- as well as the limitations of its power.
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[@Namtrendingvideos]

Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out

[@Jump-2-the-moon]

im12andthisisdeep

[@TiffanyLynTube]

I've never heard this before and I am in love with it!! Yes! That is exactly what reading and writing are like!

[@aperture0]

@@TiffanyLynTube Does reading chemistry and physics books help? or just literature?

[@TiffanyLynTube]

@@aperture0 I guess that depends on the person. I do love a good science book however, the true experience happens through stories that are left open for interpretation. Chemistry and physics are concepts..... not so much stories. Know what I mean?

[@aperture0]

@@TiffanyLynTube Gotcha!

[@thenia6759]

Books they had read together : 1) The Fire Next Times - James Baldwin 2) Leaves of Grass - Walt Whitman 3) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis 4) Trees of Eastern North America - Gil Nelson 5) The Sibley Field Guide To Birds of Eastern North America - David Allen Sibley 6) The Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Merriam-Webster 7) Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass - Frederick Douglass 8) Gilead - Marilynne Robinson

[@dariyaburtseva3371]

omg thank you so much

[@ElenaRoche]

No Crime And Punishment?

[@HKA_]

Thank you so much! I was planning on watching it again just to write down the books 😂

[@thenia6759]

@@HKA_ most welcome :)

[@hayettebahamma6282]

Thank you so much 🌸 💐

[@BusinessMotivationFamily]

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin

[@TheSonzeK]

or just watch movies

[@hugoc.8534]

Beautiful

[@georgehamilton6624]

depends if its a good book or not i suppose some books are more immersive than others

[@travissearles23]

I don't need to read someone elses imagination when i've got my own!

[@rinmartell2678]

@@travissearles23 That's so ignorant.

[@thenia6759]

"Reading charged his inner life with mystery, with imagination, with beauty. Reading gave him images that gave him joy, mountain, ocean, deer, frost. Words that taste of a free, natural world. Reading gave him a language for what he had lost"

[@LucasAlves-pb3qs]

Such a masterpiece of poetry you gave us here. Is it yours?

[@josephbrennan370]

@@LucasAlves-pb3qs it's from the video....

[@travissearles23]

Where did you copy that one from?

[@thenia6759]

@@travissearles23 all of it came out from this video

[@malapet8317]

I commend you lady. You're an advocate of human erichment in life

[@osse1n]

*Knowledge is potential power - Applied knowledge is true power* Some people dive into books as a matter of escaping reality, like watching TV shows. Be mindful of that and keep a healthy relationship to reading.

[@Brainy_Breakdowns]

Who does this today?

[@irahat6387]

I finished reading The history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson Its an awwesome book

[@jackiez8946]

i Rahat omg im reading that, but i have to read it as summer work for ap bio class 😅

[@jorgeromera3861]

It depends on the book, of course, but the mere act of reading makes your brain strive much more than watching a TV show (unless the TV show is in a foreign language).

[@pritalbamnodkar2620]

O'ssein that's one of my favorite quotes from "Think and Grow Rich"

[@JJ-kl7eq]

The healing power of Teding. Speaking in front of a crowd of strangers who clap graciously to your words.

[@travissearles23]

Greed! Pure greed! Wheres the #Hyperloop #ElonMusk? I didn't get paid for attending that #TedX and if i recall it should be nearing completion?

[@thenia6759]

"The river is shadowy in some places but the light shines through the cracks of trees. On some low branches hang plenty of mulberries. You stretch your arm straight out to grab some" Letter from Patrick to his daughter. What a beautiful line 🎈

[@Highlyskeptical]

Reading helped me conceptualize how the future should be, it cuts through the endless noise of everyday life.

[@JasonGafar]

Omg, such a wonderful comment.

[@jorgeromera3861]

Long ago I got a crappy job. I stayed there more than 9 years because I could read. Tolstoi, Dostoievski, Gogol, Thackeray, Dickens... The salary was poor (4 euros per hour, in Spain), but man, I could read. There's only one thing better than reading: writing.

[@Psychology_529]

Which author inspired you most? What book did you get lost in?

[@jorgeromera3861]

@@Psychology_529 Interesting but difficult question. There were lots of wonderful books in those days. Maybe "Vanity Fair", by Thackeray. It was a compelling reading, with that craving for finding a while to keep reading.

[@Psychology_529]

@@jorgeromera3861 Interesting perspective. Recently, I've been struggling to find a book I've been engrossed in since The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I'll look into Thackeray. What genres do you normally enjoy reading?

[@jorgeromera3861]

@@Psychology_529 As a matter of fact I've been without reading for more time I would have never imagined in the past. Strange how a habit a person has fostered most of their life can vanish. Recently, however, I've regained my love for reading thanks to a novel (my favorite genre) by Jonathan Coe, "What a carve up!".

[@mariselalopez55]

Love her book, “Reading with Patrick” Read it for one of my English classes

[@salehqqq3515]

This has genuinely touched me, the speaker was steadily narrating the story, her phrasing of words was such a sweet taste to my mind. + i miss reading a lot so much, goddammit i hope i gain back my reading abilities :(

[@urfriendnanda34]

you can start now, start slowly but start

[@ziyixu3384]

I do not remember when was the last time I read a book with my heart clearly. Probably when I was a junior high school student and the book was a novel written by an online writer. Even now, I am still reading that book although I almost know every detail about the book. Thanks for the Ted Talk which reminds me that I should spend some time reading and thinking. Hope I can stay away from video games and smartphones apps. I hope I could be a better person. Thanks!

[@b_08_amitkumarsahu90]

Can I know that book please

[@naimaaxmed1248]

Good for you. I started cutting down of a use Soical media. I star reading books like never before I never liked reading books. But I start loving it each and every day. My mind is growing bigger than before. Keep it the positive side of it .

[@PoeticalContext]

I have found that you have to be very deliberate about reading books. The wave of smartphone notifications, social media and internet browsing are addictive but don't have the substance that reading books provides. Force the issue. Use a timer on your phone - set it for 15 or 30 minutes of time wherein you don't do anything but read. At some point, it naturally picks up momentum. I have had my volume of book-reading disrupted by social media and internet. The last 2 months I have taken breaks from social media for weeks at a time to read a book. Kudos to you! Keep reading!

[@syedaanum100]

One of the most beautiful talks i've heard.

[@celloafterdark4173]

Thank you for this, such a beautiful example of simply caring about and loving another person

[@123meenasalih]

I have so much respect for her, thank you for fighting for what’s right and telling us why reading is important in life!🥺💖

[@Je.rone_]

*Ironically enough I stopped reading to watch this video* 💪🎭

[@itslife1399]

@Cindy C. The dude's a troll.. don't pay attention to it.

[@itslife1399]

@Cindy C. Of course !

[@DabsOnDabs]

@White Man I hope you get past your pain one day.

[@DanielMortari]

you can put subtitles on

[@Je.rone_]

@@DanielMortari i like that, thinking on your toes.. I guess that's why they call you Damarco Greatness.

[@Deba7777]

That was an amazing deposit of your life and depth into this young man's life that will have ripple effects! I am so touched by the sacrifice of your time and love! May God richly bless you for it!

[@anoopparmar3544]

Reading is the way of finding ourselves reality....

[@Vahe345]

I have the utmost respect for this lady. Chinese can be so charitable, smart and positive. You can just see the compassion in her!

[@sumiyaislam7638]

Reading like talking to other people , understand them, know about them and know about your self more. Explore your self with reading . improve your self with reading.

[@PoeticalContext]

Very heartfelt! Michelle Kuo is a walking example of compassion and agape love for fellow humans. Few things fuel our humanity as reading. I really couldn't say where I would be or what my psyche would be like if I was not a life-long lover of books.

[@sattarabus]

This is the kind of video I would like to recommend myself perennially. Its message, simple and immemorial. sweeps over your consciousness like a soft , aromatic zephyr. I liked Michelle's sombre, unhurried pace. The quotations from poems underpinned the tenor of her presentation. Beautiful.

[@sugarlumppublishing6862]

Such a touching take on life - reading enhances things in a way many people just don't understand

[@juanpedrodelacruz7348]

I have panic disorder and on medication but sometimes, meds doesnt work so everytime I think I will be having an attack, I read and it makes me feel better and my panic started to calm down. So I guess it works. Reading is like Meditation but interactive.

[@perryrobles2615]

Reading can also help you RELATE. Helps you find others like you. Reading Shakespeare helped my prodigy TREMENDOUSLY. Dante. Byron. All of these writers PAVED my way. Helped me to “see”.

[@BiancaAguglia]

There's one more thing reading did for Patrick: it made him the hero of a touching story. ❤️ Thank you for your beautiful words and beautiful actions, Michelle. They are inspiring.

[@ElenaRoche]

Touching story? He killed a person. That person will not be able to go on, have a life, kids, grandkids, career, etc. The parents of that person are childless. If that person already had a child, that child is now fatherless. I commend her for reaching out to him, but a touching story it is not. It's a tragedy. Read Crime And Punishment by Dostoyevsky. A man that murders someone is changed forever, especially if he regrets what he has done. His family is deeply effected and is suffering the consequences of his actions.

[@BiancaAguglia]

@@ElenaRoche I'm sorry if I gave the impression I forgot about the person who was killed. I didn't. You are right: that is a tragedy. But Patrick's story IS touching to me for at least three reasons: 1. We all make awful decisions at one point (or many more points in) our lives. We especially make awful choices if we live in a world of poverty, limited opportunities, and constant hardship. It's hard not to be worn out (mentally and morally) by an environment like that. I'm not saying that we have an excuse to act badly. I'm just saying that's a reality of life. 2. Like you said, Patrick regrets his actions. That's not enough to bring his victim back. Nothing is. But it's enough to make him a person who deserves to be treated as a fellow human being (albeit a human being who must pay for his harmful actions.) 3. Like Michelle said, "there are parts of Patrick he doesn't need to apologize for." And those parts are touching indeed. You said that a man who murders is changed forever. I agree. I'll add that it takes a lot of courage and determination to not let those changes kill everything that's good in you. To choose instead to live a life that, in one way or another, is still worth living. Again, I'm sorry if I gave the impression Patrick's story was touching enough to justify what he did. I'll never be able to come up with a reason or an excuse for murder like that. But I can't help being touched by the story. Given that I've known a share fair of despair, I wonder how many people would have acted differently. Equally important, how many people would have had the courage to see themselves worthy enough to keep living.

[@DerMessiasderSatire]

@@ElenaRoche Tragedy is touching, as comedy is. As everything can be. Touching is simply something that evokes emotion in us and his story is a tragedy, for both the victim and himself.

[@kevinwilliams3272]

I phrased my comment a little differently, Bianca, but I very much like the way you have expressed yourself.

[@daniels.os.]

Oh my... her speech was so powerful.

[@andreahjalmarsson1092]

that last quote gave me chills. this is powerful

[@jazzfan7491]

This is extremely moving. Thank you.

[@washiii_07]

I felt my heart move. This story goes beyond any epic tale. It feels like a true human-to-human story. i am happy to read this.

[@yellowmellow4753]

Simply inspiring, thank you so much.

[@leojamias1275]

Thank you for this story about humanity and the power of caring.

[@anielson6152]

Yes!! Reading is amazing.

[@estarling8766]

Getting 17k views and more than 16k likes within 6 hours from its publishing, a subject about the beauty of reading, this is itself an amazing fact. There is still hope that the reading will shape further on the education of the future generations.

[@margaretcantlon9960]

As an Avid reader who grew up in a home full of avid readers I was horrified when Kindle arrived. I could not imagine holding a cold , metal Book. The mother of my only two grandchildren goes through 6 Romance Novels a week on Kindle. I was afraid the children would follow her lead. But I am delighted that they still love to hold a real book in their hands, especially as they are both in college. My son was an in a Advanced Literature Class of 7 students in 7th grade. One evening he casually mentioned that his class was having a famous Guest Writer the next day. I asked for his name and was stunned to hear that

[@margaretcantlon9960]

James Baldwin. One of the greatest living writers. I showed up for my son's class the next day. Seven 7th graders, me and JAMES BALDWIN sat on the bleachers in the Gym and mostly listed for the next few hours. The students didn't really know his work yet , and nothing about his personal life. I knew everything. He was a mesmerizing speaker. Soft, gentle voice. Very grounded. Polished from all of his years of living in Europe. A very tiny man. His eyes were unusually large and every pain he had suffered in his life were reflected from their Vast depth. I felt overwhelming compassion for hin along with Total Awe. (.I.have met many famous artists, The Rat Pack, Authors, multimillionaire. I have never been Impressed by fame or wealth , this was my first time to feel Awe. He had tremendous Courage. And his need to Teach Children never diminished. This wss in the late 70",s and as a heavy smoker his health was failing. As a nurse I realized that his small,,extremely thin body and over sized eyes were due to undiagnosed and Untreated Hyperthyroidism as a childhood. That broke my heart. Poor,, black children still do not receive the Health Care they deserve. . Had he received early treatment he would have been an average or large teen and man I am sure he suffered from schoolmates teasing. He could not have been engaged in sports. For Teen males Size Matters. To the girls too. All three of my younger brothers grew to 6'3" and sailed through high school with Confidence. So did my son. My grandson is short and high school was agony for him He was an Honor student and had his Nerdy Honors Program friends but brains are not the way teen males measure themselves against each other. Very Primeval. I think that made James Baldwin turn to Reading books and going Anywhere in the Universe a writer could take him. His genetic misfortune lead to our Great Fortune. He was very Wise.

[@luzvinosorio400]

Such a Beatiful story!!

[@Beiez]

Insanely beautifully story here. This is the stuff I‘m subbed to this channel for

[@jeehyenatalieshin529]

Thank YOU for sharing.

[@nurfikriyati7339]

Reading can bring me out of the world💗

[@els7002]

Reading leads me to places I never knew and to a person I want to be...

[@roserain1097]

This inspired me, both mentally with positive thoughts, but physically, with action of reading. Starting now.

[@pigopigo7252]

breath-taking, spectaculous, outstanding, contemporary speech

[@thoughfullylost6241]

Really powerful thank you

[@pablue321]

Reading helps me escape reality

[@simplesimon534]

Initially the video simply seems interesting, but as you carry on you'll find it wrenching your heart... Gradually!!

[@aselaizhusupbaeva4776]

Ya are really motivate me to reading 👍

[@furdosnurhussen3264]

I’m in tears 😭

[@ShinbrigTV]

Loved it!!

[@lisakuehn1415]

You’re such a beautiful soul❤️

[@dimitrirufinodasilva2023]

i loved this

[@123meenasalih]

This reminds me when I wanted to help this Uighur girl because her father was stuck in a concentration camps our stories felt the same and you told me how reading had the power to bridge the gap of inequality. Also I have been reading a lot lately and as I was reading and gaining more knowledge whenever I’m going through daily life or going on my phone and seeing something I’m real life I read about I usually don’t want to think because I don’t want my mind fixated on something and then I become emotional and feel negative and stay in that spiral like I’m in now and I feel like some of the mistakes I made was because I was ignorant to the knowledge and I didn’t know any better and idk if the people around me are interested and learning and growing like I am..

[@JournaHealing]

There is one reading that has allowed me to heal and find myself again despite depression, anxiety and panic attacks. The book is called "Everything Will be Fine I promise". It's a read I recommend to anyone who wants to heal and find the courage to change their life. I wish everyone that I can heal from the past 🍁🍃🌼

[@anuja_k7946]

Reading makes miracles after we feel bored and we give up.

[@ryanmagiera4402]

this is perfect

[@brendarua01]

Reading is the first step to empowerment. Writing is the foundation of our social continuity. It transfers the accumulated knowledge of the current generation to those of the future, continually building. But there are many challenges, pointed out very nicely here. Thanks!

[@pencils1951]

I think you need to check your spelling. Oops!

[@brendarua01]

@@pencils1951 Yep Thank you.

[@pencils1951]

@@brendarua01 No insult intended, you're an Ok girl.

[@joethige]

Michelle Kuo, I would love to meet you, I love everything you’ve said. Not just going back but giving back is a great act of love

[@worldofsoumya]

Wonderful! Very eye opening! Really did not imagine reading would have such a great impact! By the way pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to his daughter about the history of India when he was in jail which inspired her to grow up into an immemorable national leader in the future. Really, Patrick's lifestyle and his daughter's may be very petty as compared to that but made a huge shift from his past circumstances. Really very much enlightened by the illustrations!🙏

[@david_oliveira71]

Wow, what a speech! So grateful to have watched it

[@etcetera3282]

Miss Michelle is authentic, humane, compassionate...so much so i would love to think that if Jesus was alive, he would want her to be his disciple...because she practices goodness...no hypocracy (p.s. i am not religious but i love Jesus nonetheless). All blessing for her...a lot of lessons for many of us.

[@pravinkhude6527]

Awesome!

[@block36079]

16:28 that’s what’s important, I’m happy Patrick decided to think.

[@TheKingdomMarriage]

Wow great insight

[@JavierBonillaC]

Beautiful....

[@Vahe345]

She reminds me of the teacher role of Michelle Pfeiffer from dangerous minds but even better!

[@soledad6570]

Merci pour la traduction 🌞 Je suis touchée par son témoignage 💜 Depuis que j'ai été en âge de m'acheter moi-même des livres, j'en ai "dévoré" des centaines. Ils sont devenus mes meilleurs amis, m'ont permis de "sentir" la pensée et le coeur d'Êtres magnifiques que je n'aurais jamais croisés de par mon milieu social d'origine plus que modeste. Cela m'a tellement nourri intérieurement ! ...Et m'a donné la force de me battre pour mes convictions et de réaliser un métier que j'aime. Je me rappelle avoir pensé : "est - ce que les aveugles ont accès à ces livres magnifiques ? Sont - ils tous traduits en braille ?" Et de me donner envie de lire pour eux, pour agrémenter la bibliothèque sonore de toutes ces merveilles (il y a 40 ans, aujourd'hui nous trouvons des livres audio partout). Merci 🙏

[@juniorfenix3908]

ca me fait plaisir de lire tes lignes, je sens que tu as de l'humanite. Je crois que les livres n'ont pas de barriere et que la lecture peut delivrer quiconque.

[@mistersmith1883]

Reading changes your brain chemistry (like drugs) they can help repair improve your reward systems

[@rhythmictiger]

I hope he got to spend time with his daughter.

[@grannysoldier9069]

Hello! c: I was deeply touched by this story, but I also didn’t get the end of it. What happened to Patrick after he had been homeless for some time, did he met his daughter, what happened to his life? (sorry, I’m terribly bad at English)

[@biggiecheez6879]

Yea still confused, thought this was pretty critical to the story

[@montyparata4914]

Wow I wish I knew someone like you

[@amitrajput8299]

Powerful

[@keirstenwahlberg6476]

When we read we are of equal value. Books hold no judgement. They present the world we relate to, even if we disagree with it.

[@AbdallahBotan]

I really enjoyed it, I wish Patrick to get a job and I wish he make is daughter feel proud of him.

[@renaudlevasseur8327]

I wonder If you have to read a book, or if reading articles or even comments on youtube as the same "power". I guess it's like everything, you can have good and bad it depend on your point of view. Reading has help me a lot (mostly spiritual and pschological books) because I learn stuff that I try to apply in my life, and also writing is really great to get things out of my brain, to externalised them. Everything can be good or bad it's the way you use it that makes the difference... Obsiouly I have a lot of conversation with myself ! HAHA

[@tsunyosht1251]

I got a audiobook ad before this

[@tmdseries8113]

Nice dear friend 😊 TED x

[@davidmujica4363]

the healing power of a basic action...

[@robertpinto9217]

I took a break from reading a book to watch this video.

[@haruruben]

I can do anything! Take a look! It’s in a book! Yes, we all saw Reading Rainbow

[@visibleinvisible4809]

Remarkable

[@pvictor8735]

God! so sharp!...

[@hastargaming5009]

pretty good

[@LEACHISRICH]

Reading is Key to victory

[@user-tz3co5nj5d]

読書の効用、改めて考えさせられました。

[@pencils1951]

I wish I could read and write!

[@jumpanimations645]

Youll get there buddy

[@BangzamChannel_UAE]

good sharing

[@captainnemo2150]

My favorite book is 20,000 leagues under de sea..jules verne

[@landseerlee1447]

阅读能让浮躁的心平静下来。

[@mohamedamash6304]

Could any one here send me a copy or a free link of " the fire next times " cuz I couldn't download it .

[@curioslywithvictormakau]

Reading makes you travel to distant worlds while still in your little room. It gives you a chnace to eek into the minds of great men. If you are 20, and you read a book written by a 40-year old, then you can gain his perspective, maturity, and learn from his life-long mistakes.

[@Jay30k]

I read Watchmen every year. It's not just a comic, it's art a so much more

[@aleins01]

👍

[@WaffleDaily]

I’m pretty early, might as well mention that I upload waffles every day

[@krt7640]

Subscribed..

[@mariselalopez55]

Waffle Daily thank you

[@divyamurugesan5557]

Awesome TED Talk. What happened to Patrick and his daughter?

[@b_08_amitkumarsahu90]

That's a good question

[@divyamurugesan5557]

Yeah I feel like reading an inspiring story without the end.

[@divyamurugesan5557]

@Google Chromebook So finally after 4 days some information is revealed.😉 Thanks buddy for following their rocket to the Carribean 🥴😋😊

[@b_08_amitkumarsahu90]

@Google Chromebook hehe thanks

[@DanielMortari]

she did a lot of things with Patrick

[@ellabl4184]

I think she should help him one more time. She should collect all the letters and publish them as a book. That way Patrick maybe has a chance to become a writer and to have a better life...

[@kelenred2524]

which writers did she mentiones¿?

[@travissearles23]

I learned how to read in the 2nd grade and don't need any practice! Thanks anyways!

[@richardhawkins2647]

I was hoping this vid would encourage me to read, I got to 4.08 and noticed a video called Evolution of Bugs Bunny Over 81 Years. No contest!

[@user-su5gl4vy3u]

14:04

[@onslowjax]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤