Book of the Week: Stammering Pride and Prejudice

Stammering Pride and Prejudice: Difference not Defect by Patrick Campbell and Christopher Constantino is a thought-provoking book that challenges traditional perspectives on stammering (often referred to as stuttering). The book argues against viewing stammering as a disability or a problem that needs fixing. Instead, it presents it as a unique way of speaking that should be accepted and valued as part of human diversity.

The authors, both of whom have personal experiences with stammering, weave together a variety of essays that explore the societal, cultural, and personal impacts of stammering. They advocate for a shift in how society perceives speech differences, promoting pride in stammering. The book critically examines the prejudice that people who stammer often face and suggests that these attitudes are more disabling than the stammering itself.

Through personal narratives, academic research, and philosophical inquiry, "Stammering Pride and Prejudice" encourages readers to reconsider the implications of striving for fluency and the value of embracing speech diversity. It is a call to action for more inclusive attitudes and a deeper understanding of what it means to speak differently.