The Elegy for Reading Is Just a Beginning

James Marriott’s latest book, The New Dark Ages, has been met with both praise and criticism for its dire warning about the decline of reading in the digital age. While some hail it as a necessary call to action, others accuse Marriott of relying on grandiose rhetoric rather than concrete solutions.

Marriott’s own experience is compelling. As a child, he spent his school holidays devouring books under the guidance of his father, a teacher who instilled in him a love for literature that has stayed with him to this day. However, Marriott’s thesis – that smartphones have all but killed reading for pleasure – relies on a simplistic narrative that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.

The problem lies not in the fact that people are reading less, but rather in how we define “reading” itself. Marriott laments the rise of social media and its impact on politics, but his proposed solution is to return to the print era, where newspapers were a staple of everyday life. This ignores the complex interplay between technology, literacy, and civic engagement.

Studies have shown that increased access to information online can lead to higher levels of civic participation and engagement. The notion that social media has led to a decline in reading for pleasure is overstated – many people use their smartphones to access e-books, audiobooks, and other digital forms of storytelling.

Marriott’s advocacy for books relies on an outdated nostalgia for the print era, where literature was seen as the pinnacle of intellectual achievement. However, this ignores the diversity of literary voices and experiences that exist today. The idea that only “prose fiction” can provide a deep understanding of human experience is elitist and narrow-minded.

Marriott’s argument about the importance of literacy in maintaining democratic values is undermined by his own equivocation on the issue. He claims that post-literate society doesn’t mean people are incapable of reading and writing, but rather that they may be less inclined to engage with complex literary texts. This raises more questions than it answers – what does it mean to be “post-literate” in a world where digital communication is increasingly dominant?

The New Dark Ages is not just about the decline of reading, but also about Marriott’s own struggles to adapt to a changing cultural landscape. His book is a personal elegy for a bygone era, highlighting tensions between tradition and innovation, nostalgia and progress.

As we move forward in this digital age, it’s essential to have a nuanced conversation about the role of technology in shaping our culture and society. Marriott’s book may be a starting point, but it’s only the beginning – not the end – of a much-needed discussion about what reading means for us today.

The implications of Marriott’s thesis extend far beyond literature itself. As we continue to grapple with issues like inequality, social media addiction, and civic disengagement, we need a more comprehensive approach to addressing these problems. By framing the issue solely in terms of reading versus technology, Marriott misses an opportunity to explore deeper cultural and societal shifts.

This is precisely where Marriott’s book falls short – its grandiose rhetoric and simplistic solutions can’t capture the complexity of the issues it raises. As we move forward, we need a more nuanced conversation about the role of technology in shaping our culture and society – one that recognizes both benefits and drawbacks of digital communication.

Ultimately, The New Dark Ages will appeal to those already convinced by Marriott’s argument, but leave many readers wondering if the thesis is as clear-cut as it seems. As we navigate this uncertain landscape, what’s clear is that reading – in all its forms – remains a vital part of our cultural and intellectual heritage.

However, we need to move beyond nostalgia for a bygone era and engage with the complexities of the digital age on their own terms. Only then can we begin to have a meaningful conversation about what reading means for us today – and what it will mean for tomorrow.