Home > Consumer Reviews > Talking With Your Hands, Listening With Your Eyes: A Complete Photographic Guide to American Sign Language

This book is an excellent introduction to ASL and Deaf culture issues. There is a manageable number of basic signs and insets providing details about being deaf in a hearing world, information on famous deaf people, and technological advances useful for the deaf. The introduction also contains a concise history of deaf education. The author is extremely credible, which is something important to me when learning a new language!

From the instruction of a single deaf individual, I have developed a rudimenary knowledge of sign language: the alphabet, numbers, various greetings, some nouns and adjectives. This book has helped me to reinforce what I know, clean up the sloppy signing I had been doing, and learn new things. I have had trouble learning signs from books in the past because I would often miss something important. With this book, I've felt very comfortable with the new signs because of the format. The combination of specific written descriptions with pictures gives a very understandable way to learn new signs. The added bonus of mnemonic devices to remember which sign is which is very helpful. It's embarrassing to admit, but I kept confusing the signs for "yes" and "no" until I read the helpful hints in this book - not a good thing to get wrong!

There may be books with more words in them, but I would recommend this book for all beginners, and advanced beginners like myself. Once the signs here are learned (and as in my case cleaned up considerably), then start looking for more comprehensive works. I've been practicing about 30-100 words a night depending on how many I already knew and feel very confident that I'm finally doing them correctly.

One of the best sign language learning books available. The pictures and desciptions of how to make the sign are excellent. However, no one book has every sign. Buy this for your personal library, it is the clearest book on how to make a particular sign. Even books that I consider very good such as "The American Sign Language Sign Book" by Louie Fant sometimes leave me confused by unclear drawings or descriptions. Gabriel Grayson's book is a great cross reference for times like these or for building your vocabulary to the point where you can move on to learning phrases and grammar.

This book edges ahead of others in that it features clear photographs, has words listed topically, and explains deaf history and culture throughout the book. It is much easier to use than books with a "dictionary" layout. The author has the experience and backing to know what works. I highly recommend it.

This is the best book I have found to learn to sign.
I kept the copy from the library checked out for so long, and kept going overdue, and was wearing it out, I figured I'd best go ahead and purchase my own copy.
I tried other books, but they were useless to me.
I purchased a dvd set from amazon, but the dvd set was horrible - and if your looking for sign dvd's, you'll see which one (set) I warn you about.
A couple copies of this book (you'll will wear this hvy duty book out - from much use) or a hard bound edition will get you communicating w/ your deaf friend quickly - but you have to study.
Money well spent.

This is a clearly written and helpful guide, authored by the hearing son of two deaf parents. Its breadth of coverage, attention to details, and hundreds of photographs make this book stand out.

I especially appreciated the insets, which added insight into deaf culture.