A History of Reading

I'm winding down my inquiry into reading itself with the book A History of Reading by Steven Roger Fischer. Not a lot of great surprises here for me, but it did help put reading's influence across the ages into perspective.

For instance, Fischer makes a great case for reading as a major cause of the Reformation. This 16th century religious movement followed on the heals of the 15th century invention of printing. Printing for the first time brought the cost of books down dramatically, putting them within the grasp of a far wider audience than ever before. This phenomenon fed on itself, with savvy printers designing even simpler book formats (pocket sized, literally) that introduced the printed word to virtually everyone in Western Europe.

None of this is surprising. But what Fischer points out is that this effectively marked a major transition point in society, from a listening culture to a private reading culture. Previously most people experienced books via public church readings. Groups would stand around and listen to an orator that read directly from the few, cherished books.

Fischer further points out that this transition marked a major power shift away from the Church, which previously had a virtual monopoly on books. The Church owned most books, and therefore controlled which books were read and how they should be interpreted. Virtually no one owned Bibles except the Church; to understand and take part in Christianity, in fact, you had to go through the Church.

The printed word, now available to all via inexpensive printing for the first time allowed people to read in private. They could choose what to read, when to read it, and most importantly, how to interpret what they read. Religious thought and interpretation was effectively transitioning from the Church to the people. A major power shift, indeed.

And so, reading really did play a major role in the Reformation (and effectively the Enlightenment).

I will close with a quote from near the end of the book, which sent chills down my spine as I think about my forthcoming career change...

"Literacy is everywhere on the increase, promising no end to reading. Europe, North America, East Asia and most of Oceania already claim one hundred per cent school attendance to age fourteen. Though the rest of the world commonly registers fifty per cent or less in this regard, the situation is rapidly changing as a result of massive international funding schemes specifically designed and implemented to promote literacy in the Third World. The schemes will benefit not only the recently endowed, but everyone on Earth. New readers will open new markets, generate local employment, increase buying power and global spending in general, enabling greater universal affluence and, most importantly, awareness. The entire world will be a richer place... literally."

A History of Reading, p. 342

I've been thinking it; it's nice to read about it in print!