Reading and Understanding presents a review of current thinking about the psychology of reading, introducing the nature of problems facing the reader who is to extract meaningful information from printed symbols. It is suitable for use as an advanced text for psychology, education and linguistics students.

The volume includes a description of text and of the cognitive processes and changes necessary for transforming visible characters into meanings, and introduces the notion of the "computational problem" facing the skilled reader - what kinds of information are available, and what are the processes necessary for recovering that information? It also deals with the development of reading skills in readers of differing ability, including development dyslexics, poor readers, skilled readers and speed readers.