UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Is this the Disenlightenment?
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Aug 27, 2025 
James Marriott is a cultural critic for The Times of London, while Jared Henderson is a YouTuber tackling philosophical concepts. They dive into the alarming decline in reading habits, especially among young men, linking it to broader cultural and educational crises. Marriott warns of a perilous 'post-literate society' where critical thinking fades, while Henderson offers solutions to rekindle reading interest. The discussion navigates the conflict between traditional reading and digital distractions, reflecting on literacy's evolution amidst the rising influence of technology.
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Literacy Is Falling In Developed Countries
- OECD and other surveys show literacy and reading-for-pleasure have declined sharply in recent decades.
- James Marriott links this trend strongly to smartphone adoption and changing media habits.
Print Trains Logical Thought
- Books structure argument and force logical coherence in a way short videos do not.
- James Marriott argues print cultivates denser, more rational thought than TikTok or podcasts.
Broadcast Consumption Erodes Deep Thinking
- Jared describes a shift from literate to broadcast societies where people become purely receptive.
- He warns losing mind-wandering and sustained focus undermines the ability to form novel, rigorous ideas.
