Found myself cringing at that excerpt, too - though I think that book sounds really interesting otherwise - I love language. I've been reading a lot for teaching dyslexics to read lately (my son is autistic and probably dyslexic as well) and it seems like it's very much, in most kids this comes naturally but for him he has to slowly learn every little rule.. So my years of hands-off, 'reading will click when he's ready!' ...maybe not so much. :/ Some things sure would be easier if we could all be shoved into one big how-brains-work lump, but probably way less fascinating. Humans, man.