Customer Reviews

For Hearing People Only: Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions About the Deaf Community, Its Culture, and the "Deaf Reality"

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

as a hearing student just now entering the Deaf world, i found much of this book hard to read. i didn't want to be guilty by association of many of the prejudices, assumptions, & opressive acts that were described. i was saddened to think that the rather negative bias (though undoubtedly deserved) towards hearing people represented in this book might block me in developing many true relationships with Deaf people. i've, fortunately, found that not to be the case. the Deaf community is much like any other diverse community. the book did definitely help me to open my eyes to many things i was ignorant of & i even had to admit some stereotypical things about myself. i reccomend it to everyone despite their level of participation with this dynamic community.

While this book does contain useful information about the history of Deaf culture in America, and other questions hearing people may have about Deaf culture, the tone was very confrontational and I felt under attack while reading it.

I believe the book is a collection of question-and-answer essays that were originally published in a Deaf publication, for Deaf people to pass on to their hearing friends who may have had those questions. As such, the audience for the writing is almost more for Deaf people than it is "For Hearing People Only."

I disagreed strongly with some of the generalizations about hearing people, and particularly with the book's portrayal of Christianity, but an Amazon review is not the place for a 10 page paper arguing point by point with topics in the book.

I would not recommend this book to the casual hearing observer or to one who is interested in knowing a little bit more about Deaf culture unless you have to read it for a class. I found the book "Train Go Sorry" much more interesting and easier to stomach as an introduction to issues facing the Deaf.

This book, a collection of 60 essays from "Deaf Life" magazine, contains a thoughtful, and sometimes humorous, look at Deaf Culture, and the hearing worlds misconception of it. The book is well organized for easy reference. I find myself returning to it's many chapters often and discover a new insight every time! A great place to start on the journey to Deaf Awareness!

I, like many American Sign Language instructors, use this book to introduce students to the myriad topics concerning sign language and Deaf people. As a compilation of questions from hearing readers of "Silent Life" magazine with wonderfully informative responses, it gives students and other curious parties the chance to begin learning about many items--it includes many "dumb questions" that most would be afraid to ask someone in person.

This book was at times informative. However, I had to FORCE myself to read it, because I felt that every reading assignment given to me was going to involve me reading about what a jerk I am because I can hear.

An example:
In Chapter 40, the author addresses the way that deaf people describe hearing people. At the end of the chapter, it says, and I quote:
"The terms used by deaf people to insult or poke fun at the hearing majority cannot compare with the nastiness of the terms the hearing majority has long used against us."

That makes it okay, then?

Not by me. Promotion of such biased behavior no matter what the justification is not justice to me. It's just promoting cultural intolerance and the writers of this book should be ashamed. The whole book is full of things like this.
If I could give it negative stars, I would. Twice.

This is a wonderful book with more information than you can imagine! I require this for my students in my sign classes because it offers more information than I can teach!

Persons of the Deaf Culture take an interest to edcuate and answer Hearing questions and curiousities. Though there are newer versions I would love to take a look at, this is a GREAT tool for understanding the world from the perspective of our Deaf colleagues. A must have for anyone interested in their culture.

#1 book on Deaf Awareness. I recommend this book to everyone. Whether or not you are learning sign language or know someone who is deaf this is an excellent book for all hearing people. You never know when you will meet a deaf person and need to communicate with them, reading this book would be a great benefit to you.

This book is perfect for anyone who is studying ASL or just wanting to know more about deaf culture. A must read for all hearing people.