Are we living in the new Dark Ages? Despite vast technological advances, our societies are increasingly looking like those that preceded the advent of literacy. So argues journalist James Marriott, who sees in our abandonment of reading a threat to democracy and a reversal of many of the Enlightenment’s gains. He and EconTalk’s Russ Roberts trace literacy from its fragile first days in ancient Mesopotamia through to the printing press and the “Reading Revolution” of the mid-to-late 18th century, exploring how—and whether—its spread shaped major historical events. They analyze Marriott’s claim that reading grounds politics in rationality, consider the role of the Republic of Letters in driving Europe’s Industrial Revolution, and debate whether a book or a movie is better at conveying complexity. Marriott ends with a consolation: Just as fast food gave rise to the gym, informational junk food may give rise to reading as an intentional discipline.
Listen to the episode here.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
James Marriott is a London Times columnist and the author of the Substack Cultural Capital, covering society, ideas, and culture. He also reviews podcasts. Previously, he worked as an assistant on the Times books desk. Before joining the paper, he worked in the rare book trade. He is the author of The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society (2026).
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