Tinsley Galyean is the author of the new book Reframe: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us. He is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit organization Curious Learning.
Q: What inspired you to write Reframe?
A: More than a decade ago, I was inspired by a simple question: Can children learn to read without schools or teachers? This question ultimately led me to co-found and lead Curious Learning, a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating illiteracy worldwide.
The result has been incredible growth in literacy rates in some of the world’s most underserved communities using inexpensive smartphones and specialized apps.
As I traveled around the world to ascertain the effectiveness of our programs, I began focusing more and more on the importance of curiosity. I realized that to achieve real transformation in anything, not just literacy, people need to overcome their self-imposed limitations.
At this unique time in history, as the world faces so many global challenges, I wanted to share this story and the insights I gained by writing Reframe. I hope my book will resonate with anyone seeking to make meaningful change in their own life or community.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The title, Reframe: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us, reflects the book's dual focus on external action and internal transformation. "Reframe" refers to ferreting out and adjusting the limiting beliefs that reside in our minds and blind us to what is possible.
Ultimately, the title signifies that curiosity is the magic vehicle used to free us from these limitations, aligning us with a life of learning and growing.
Q: What did you see as the right balance between memoir and analysis as you wrote the book?
A: I balanced the book by framing it as "part travel memoir, part spiritual journey, and mostly a recipe for prosocial success."
The narrative uses personal experiences and data-driven analysis to transport readers across the globe to places like India and Ethiopia. This blend was intentional to chronicle the fight against global illiteracy while also providing tools for deep self-awareness and organizational effectiveness.
Q: What impact did it have on you to write this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
A: The writing process was a deeply reflective and collaborative experience that supported my own continued learning and growth, particularly in collaboration with my colleagues at Curious Learning.
I hope that sharing our story inspires those working to end illiteracy and encourages all readers, whether individuals or organizations, to examine and transcend their own limiting beliefs.
The core takeaway is the recognition that curiosity is key to freeing us from limitations and enabling a life centered on learning.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I continue to serve as CEO of Curious Learning, focusing on the fascinating and curious journey of how to give everyone the opportunity to learn to read, a goal that continues today.
Our work leverages mobile technology, which is accelerating rapidly, to curate apps and develop distribution strategies. We are actively engaged in building experiments, running cost-effective campaigns, and collaborating with partners like the World Bank to maintain learner engagement and influence social norms around education.
I am also writing shorter pieces that reflect how the world and my understanding of it continues to transform.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: At Curious Learning, we believe that true sustainability is defined not by the perpetual existence of the organization, but by the result of generating sustained positive impact on individuals and the global community.
Our ultimate goal is the completion of our mission—to bring a whole generation into literacy and effectively eradicate illiteracy—leading to Curious Learning becoming obsolete.
The most important support any of us can receive, as both an organization and individuals, is assistance in illuminating and changing our own limiting beliefs.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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