Our society accepts the book as a given, but the act of…
“Our society accepts the book as a given, but the act of reading -- once considered useful and important, as well as potentially dangerous and subversive -- is now condescendingly accepted as a pastime, a slow pastime that lacks efficiency and does not contribute to the common good.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading is now seen as a leisurely, inefficient activity rather than a vital, potentially subversive practice.
In simple terms: Reading is undervalued today.
Recognize reading’s deeper value.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- personal development
- public policy
- media criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does digital media change our view of reading?
- What can restore reading’s cultural significance?
The quote may overgeneralize; readers still value depth.