At Christmas time, I asked a 9-year-old’s mother what kind of books her daughter likes to read, as I was planning to give books as presents, as I often do. The mom told me not to bother with a book – just to choose something her daughter “can listen to as background” while she plays on the computer.
No surprise to find out this move away from reading has consequences. One academic who teaches a Survey of Literature class explains the trend he sees in college students, and why we’re heading toward a “post-literate” age. It’s sad to think about everything they’re missing.
