Sold a Story

Publisher:
American Public Media

Sold a Story

4.5/5

Critic Rating

Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read but many schools are ignoring the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea.


Critic Reviews

Score: 5

Nat Malkus • The 74 Dec 2, 2022

"In the hands of adept reporter and storyteller Emily Hanford, that deep dive unfolds with crystal clarity, emotional anchors and dramatic cliffhangers to spotlight why many students struggle to read...Hanford and her colleague Christopher Peak deftly stitch together the complete picture...Clear, engaging and, yes, enraging reporting like this can help policymakers, teachers and families ensure that they are not sold a story that might hold their young readers back."

See Full Review


Score: 4

Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ Nov 19, 2022

"I know this might sound a bit technical and academic, but Hanford makes the content compelling through her tight scripting, which is combined effectively with archival audio, music and interviews with parents, teachers and reading scientists...there still seem to be many proponents of the reading instruction style Hanford criticises, so I think the podcast would have been stronger if it had featured a bit more of those voices."

See Full Review


Score: 4.5

Natalie Wexler • Forbes Oct 20, 2022

"It’s clear Hanford and Peak have done extensive research, but there’s nothing dry or didactic about the podcast. This latest podcast is a valuable addition to Hanford’s body of work, and I urge anyone with an interest in education—or the state of our democracy—to listen to it. Important as “Sold a Story” and Hanford’s other podcasts on reading are, though, they leave crucial parts of the current mess unexplored. Decoding is crucial, but it’s only one component of literacy—and complex as it is, it’s the simplest to address."

See Full Review


More In Documentary

This Land

This Land

Crooked Media

Score: 4.9

Go to Podcast

The Experiment

The Experiment

The Atlantic, WNYC

Score: 5.0

Go to Podcast

The Trust Race

The Trust Race

The Trust Race

Score: 4.8

Go to Podcast


More In Educational

The Tim Ferriss Show

The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

Score: 4.8

Go to Podcast

Science Vs

Science Vs

Gimlet

Score: 4.7

Go to Podcast

The Art of Charm

The Art of Charm

Kast Media

Score: 5.0

Go to Podcast


More In Society

Back Issue

Back Issue

Pineapple Street Studios

Score: 4.5

Go to Podcast

The Trust Race

The Trust Race

The Trust Race

Score: 4.8

Go to Podcast

Invisible Hate with Saadia Khan and Asad Butt

Invisible Hate with Saadia Khan and...

Immigrantly, Rifelion Media

Score: 5.0

Go to Podcast