The Evolution of Reading: From Manuscripts to Digital Age

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This chapter traces the transformative journey of reading from scarce manuscript writing to the widespread dissemination of knowledge through print in the 16th century, culminating in advancements in industrial printing in the 19th century and the digital age. It explores the impact of the printing press on society, governance, and the accessibility of literature, while reflecting on the challenges and bans faced by books with LGBTQIA+ content. The discussion also delves into the evolving nature of publishing in the digital era, comparing digital printing and offset printing, and exploring unique literary works like Heinlein's The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Samuel Pepys' diary.

Clay tablets! Printing presses! Old timey audio books! Speed reading strategies! Attention spans! Dyslexia history! Literacy campaigns! Dr. Adrian Johns is an historian, professor, and author of the book “The Science of Reading” and we have a nice mellow chat about when humans started to “read,” what that means, being Hooked on Phonics, Dick, Jane, character languages, audiobooks, e-readers, school segregation, literacy rates, and how long we can focus at a time. He literally wrote the book on it.

Visit Dr. Adrian Johns’ faculty bio at University of Chicago

Shop Dr. Johns’ books including The Science of Reading: Information, Media, and Mind in Modern America (2023) and The Nature of the Book: Print and Knowledge in the Making (1998)

A donation went to 826LA.org and Glioblastoma Research Organization