On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Matthew Battles, author of Palimpsest: A History of the Written Word (W. W. Norton andamp; Co., July 2015). Battles explores the trajectory of writing, from the forms it takes (cuneiform, pictographs, letters, characters, emojis) to the way its been produced (on clay tablets, on parchment, on a digital device). Writing has surprising impacts on how we think, remember, and communicate, Battles argues, even if much of that impact lies under the surface.

Music this hour:

“Forgiven Not Forgotten” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Flutter” by Jahzzar, from the album Onus