Professor Dana Suskind, MD, is both founder and director of
the Thirty Million Words Initiative, which is based on scientific
research that demonstrates the critical importance of early
language exposure on the developing child. Dr. Suskind
received the University of Chicago Medical Faculty Award as
“Distinguished Leader in Program Innovation.” She is an advisor on
The Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail Initiative and part of
the White House initiative on creating a pathway to ending the
achievement gap. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Beth Suskind is codirector of the Thirty Million Words
Initiative and is integral to translating the complexities of the
science behind their research into a curriculum. She lives in
Chicago, Illinois.
Leslie Lewinter-Suskind, BS, MSS, MFA, former Director of
International Program, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, LSU Medical
School in New Orleans, provided invaluable assistance in the
writing of Thirty Million Words. She lives in southern California.
Praise for Thirty Million Words
“[Suskind has] written a book that gives parents the tools they
need to maximize their children’s potential, one word at a
time.”—Pregnancy and Newborn
“Parents, other caregivers, and early childhood educators will be
moved and inspired by this work.”—Library Journal, starred
review
“Suskind's vision is empowering, her methods are surprisingly
simple to execute, and the results have been proven to nurture
children toward becoming stable, empathetic adults. Informative,
exciting new data that confirms the significant benefits gained by
talking to your child.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Dr. Dana Suskind has written a passionate,
engaging and informed account of the importance of early
exposure to language in child development. It is a valuable
'call to words' for parents, educators, and anyone invested in the
success and well-being of children.”—James Heckman, University of
Chicago, Nobel Laureate
“Dr. Dana Suskind is a one-person change agent. In this beautifully
written book, she infuses the wisdom of a physician with the heart
of a mother. Parents, policy makers and educators, this book is for
you. It is informative, compassionate and a call to action designed
to enrich our greatest natural resource, our children.”—Kathy
Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University, author of Einstein Never Used
Flashcards
Can a surgeon help solve poverty and improve equality of
opportunity? Dr. Dana Suskind has a simple but effective strategy:
more talking, with more complex words directed at children from
zero to three mainly by parents. Her lucid book will persude
you that talk and more talk directed at the developing brains of
infants and toddlers can drastically improve our country. Read it
and try it.”—Ezekiel Emanuel, author of Healthcare, Guaranteed
“Dr. Suskind weaves science and her journey from surgeon to
champion for children showing the profound power of words spoken to
infants. Anyone who cares about children will benefit from learning
how much language shapes our very existence from the earliest
age.”—Patricia K. Kuhl, University of Washington, co-author of The
Scientist in the Crib
“Thirty Million Words tells the story of a remarkable woman’s
unrelenting mission to give every child the chance to thrive. Dana
Suskind’s work as a pediatric surgeon with the deaf helped her to
understand the amazing power that words have on a child’s
development. She offers a simple but profound understanding of
how language affects the brain and provides insights into how to
create a rich language environment so your child can
soar. Every page overflows with warmth and intelligence—share
it and become part of something amazing.”—Steven D. Levitt,
University of Chicago, coauthor of Freakonomics
“This is a page-turner tale of birth and transformation—the birth
of a medical miracle and the transformation of a compassionate
surgeon. Dr. Suskind recounts her journey with humor and humility.
Her remarkably intimate voice opens up a fresh path alongside those
of physician writers Oliver Sacks, Atul Gawande, and Paul Farmer.
It will enthrall any reader who is exhilarated by human possibility
and inspire the next generation of physicians.”—Dr. Joshua Sparrow,
Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston
“How empowering, the realization that each of us can be our
children's personal neuro-developer, that the sheer quality of our
interactions can impact the attitude of inquiry and health of our
kids. The practical application of Dr. Suskind's work is
limitless; as a dad, and as (a “gritty”) someone invested in early
child development, I’m excited to see how far it takes us.”—Steve
Nash, President, the Steve Nash Foundation and two-time National
Basketball Association MVP
“As a pediatrician, I want everyone to read this wonderful book--to
understand how health and learning fit seamlessly together as young
children develop, and to appreciate the neurological wonder and the
social urgency of using language and love to nourish the brains of
babies and children everywhere.”—Perri Klass, author of Quirky Kids
and National Medical Director of Reach Out and Read
“I thank Dana Suskind for opening doors to solutions and hope. The
answer to the growing problem of social inequalities in our country
is to make use of America’s top two resources: its children and
their parents. If we care about this country, and the children who
will live in it as adults, we have to make Dr. Suskind’s advice
become reality.”—Sandra Gutierrez, Founder and National Director of
Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors
“Grounded upon experience as a cochlear implant surgeon, informed
by compelling social science research, and inspired by a profound
commitment to children and families, this book helps all of us
understand the importance of communicating abundantly, pleasantly,
and responsively with infants and toddlers. Tell everyone you know
to read it! Together, we can enrich language environments for
generations to come, in all types of homes and communities. The
book is a gem!”—Ronald F. Ferguson, Faculty Director, the
Achievement Gap Initiative, Harvard University
“Straight from the front lines Dr. Dana Suskind tells the story of
the power of talk in helping children learn. Easy to read and with
striking insights on every page, this book will not only make you
think differently about how you parent, but will give you the tools
to help your child be at his or her best.”—Sian Beilock, University
of Chicago, author of Choke and How the Body Knows its Mind
“Suskind writes with clarity and authority to explain why parents
need to talk to their infant children, and why some forms of
communication are better than others. Thirty Million Words belongs
on the shortlist of books that every parent, teacher, and education
policymaker should read.”—Adam Alter, New York University, author
of Drunk Tank Pink
“Anyone who cares about children, anyone who cares about the
future of this country, should read this book.”—Barbara Bowman,
Irving B. Harris Professor, Erikson Institute
“A passionate, personal account of the power all parents have to
raise thriving, successful children.”—Diana Mendley Rauner,
President, Ounce of Prevention Fund
“Prepare for a revolution. This book will make you cry, laugh, and
deeply reflect on what we should be doing to give everyone a chance
to succeed in life. As a scholar I was in awe, as a teacher I was
dazzled, and as a father I was thankful to the authors of this
book. When you pick it up, have a few hours to spare because you
will not put it down. Unequivocal 5 star.”—John A. List,
University of Chicago, author of The Why Axis
“Dana Suskind hails others as heroes but she is the true hero! She
stepped out of the safe harbor of her role as a pediatric cochlear
implant surgeon when she realized that helping deaf children hear
was not enough to help them learn language. She takes us on her
compelling and page-turning journey, navigating the best research
on children’s early learning, always sharing sound and extremely
helpful examples of what we all must do to help children learn
language and much more, always in joyful and loving ways.”—Ellen
Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute, author of Mind in
the Making
“Dr. Suskind’s work reveals that the greatest gift we can give our
children is free. How empowering to understand that it doesn’t take
money to give our children advantages in the world, it takes words.
Her research is vital, and it is our responsibility to make sure
Suskind’s message reaches the masses.”—Chris Nee, Creator and
Executive Producer, Doc McStuffins
“Dr. Suskind’s work is empowering—illuminating that every parent
already has what it takes to give their child the best start in
life: their words. This account tells the amazing impact of
language development on the young child’s developing brain, and
provides valuable insight on how we, as parents, educators, and
caregivers can create a profound difference in our children’s lives
through the simple act of talking with them. Chicago
Children’s Museum has long created rich environments that naturally
inspire talk—and we are thrilled that Dr. Suskind’s research
provides new evidence of the deep importance and positive effects
of these early interactions.”—Jennifer Farrington, President and
CEO of Chicago Children’s Museum and Board President of the
Association of Children’s Museums
“Three cheers for the promise of parents, prevention and
neuroplasticity!”—Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Harvard Medical
School
“Captivating! Great examples and an easy read but full of
scientific information. Can we make this required reading for
couples prior to conception?”—Roberta Golinkoff, University of
Delaware, author of How Babies Talk
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