No, the World Is Not Ending
The New Yorker reports that reading will soon be extinct. There's a lot in the article to ponder (only 11% can contrast two editorials' view points?!), but I think it neglects one possible explanation: the rise of reading in the workplace. As the economy has become more white-collar and services-oriented, there's more reading at work. Think of all the (pointless) emails people read daily that they never read before 1990. It is possible people don't read at home because they're sick of reading from their workday. For example, I'll occasionally read a book when I come home from work. But far more often, televised sports triumph after a day of reading briefs, laws, articles, opinions, etc., etc.
So maybe there's cause for hope. Otherwise, my daily newspaper's going to be a lot more than a buck in twenty years.
So maybe there's cause for hope. Otherwise, my daily newspaper's going to be a lot more than a buck in twenty years.
posted by Tom Fletcher at 7:39 AM
10 Comments:
Totally, totally agree, Tom. Especially during law school - after reading the dense crap I have to read for four classes, the last thing I want to read is the New Yorker. Or anything other than Glamour, or, if I'm feeling crafty, Martha Stewart Living. I found the same to be true working as a summer associate this summmer. Reading is on balance what I do for work.
That said, I do enjoy a good Harry Potter on vacation ....
I agree, too. And I also love Harry Potter, so that is my one exception for reading.
War and Peace this summer. I so pledge.
"The New Yorker reports that reading will soon be extinct."
Actually, the New Yorker reports:
"There’s no reason to think that reading [is] about to become extinct..."
Interesting article though. :)
Well-played 10:29. Of course, your ellipsis hides a "but." The whole quote:
"There’s no reason to think that reading [is] about to become extinct, but some sociologists speculate that reading books for pleasure will one day be the province of a special “reading class,” much as it was before the arrival of mass literacy, in the second half of the nineteenth century."
But yes, I overstated the premise of the article. Thanks for reining in my newsie zeal ;)
Huh...I read the New Yorker to relax.
11:25, have you tried sex? =)
I think you're forgetting the fact that Boalt sex isn't relaxing. It's more like this wild combination of alcohol, fear, and shame.
11:38 has a gift.
5:29 - I'm married. Ergo, I don't have sex. :)
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