Handwriting

A love letter to writing by hand, from a celebrated calligraphy teacher.

A hand moving thoughts across a surface is a uniquely human act, one that’s both ordinary and profound. In this fascinating and wide-ranging exploration, professional calligrapher and teacher Molly Suber Thorpe reflects on the many roles of handwriting, from our signatures and our diaries to our grade-school cursive lessons. In tracing the history of penmanship rules and rituals, and cultural forces that shape our letters, she celebrates the quiet resistance of pen and paper in an increasingly digital world. Drawing from the surprising science of the mind-hand connection, she argues that writing by hand does more than convey meaning: It connects us to our “innerverse,” a vast terrain of self-reflection and becoming. Illuminated by Suber Thorpe’s gorgeous ink-blue drawings, Handwriting passionately invites us to embrace the beauty of this deliciously tactile and imperfect art in our own life. It is a book to treasure and share with a friend.