Reading Matters: A History for the Digital Age

by Joel Halldorf

Traces earlier revolutions in the history of reading to orient our shift to the digital age

Considered one of the greatest inventions of human civilization, writing has served as a pathway to culture and education through history. The digital revolution has ushered in a dramatic transformation, leading to growing concern over the effects and possible detriments of algorithms, information overload, and fake news. In Reading Matters, Joel Halldorf makes the case that in order to navigate the upheavals of the digital age, we must understand prior technical revolutions and the transformations they engendered. He shows how our ways of reading are inseparable from the media we use, and that the decline of deep, attentive reading may be the most serious consequence of our move from page to screen.

Originally published in Swedish in 2023, this newly revised volume presents a sweeping history of transformations in reading and writing, tracing precedents in the invention of writing, the shift from clay tablets to papyrus and from scrolls to codices, the advent of printing, and the development of industrial printing. It explores how each new format of writing has encouraged new ways to think, relate, and organize the world. Essentially, it is not only what we read that is important, but how we read.

Moving through key historical events including the rise of Christianity, the scientific revolution, and the development of democracy, Halldorf explores how changes in the physical book reflected major cultural and historical shifts of the time. By tracing how new media forms have impacted human attention, authority, and community, the volume equips readers to better understand our own digital habits today. Detailing the riveting cultural history of reading technologies, book revolutions, and cultural upheavals, Reading Matters showcases the massive power of reading, writing, and books in helping us understand who we are.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

312 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Epistafi · Rating 5 out of 5]

[ENG version below]

UA

Чудова книга, яка глибоко занурюється в історію книги та різні види читання через епохи.

На початку автор детально розглядає події та історичні постаті, які сформували читання та книжки такими, якими вони є зараз. І хоча сама по собі тема книги не є надто складною, мені знадобився деякий час та простір, щоб її "переварити".

Для мене найважливішими були останні розділи про читання в цифрову епоху та способи відновлення глибокого читання.

Я рекомендую цю книгу всім, хто любить читати та прагне поглибити знання про читання, а також розуміти, що ми можемо зробити для популяризації глибокого читання.

Детальний відгук на сайті

ENG

Great book that digs deeply into the history of books and different types of reading through the ages.

The author begins by examining the events and historical figures that shaped reading and books into what they are today. And while the book's subject matter is not overly complex, it took me some time and space to "digest" it.

The most important for me were the final chapters on reading in the digital age and ways to reclaim deep reading.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and wants to deepen their knowledge of reading, as well as understand what we can do to promote deep reading.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC against an honest review!


I had a hard time completing this book because I had to read it on a computer - quite ironical given the content of the book - but it was a great way to dive into the evolution and history of reading. I loved to learn more about the way the West went from scrolls to codex, from handwritten books to the printing press, from deep reading to skimming. The author covers all of history since Antiquity until today, where he reflects on the trajectory reading is taking, the political stakes at hand and what we, as a society, can do to keep reading strong. I love that, in the end, there was this sense of hope with examples of scholars having to train back into deep reading because they lost the ability to do it, swept into the skimming mode our modern society encourages.
I also loved that there was no moralizing parts about screens, just facts about them having invaded space and put aside newspapers and books in their favor.

I also didn't expect a chapter on propaganda in Nazi Germany - maybe because I felt the book would be chronological to the end - but it was really interesting as it resonated with Victor Klemperer's book about LTI.
I also loved that it was heavily referenced, with extensive notes and a big bibliography; this book is the result of research, there's no doubt about that.


I'd love to get a physical to reread and highlight what really struck me. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this essay for review.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joel Halldorf states that human cognition is shaped not just by content but by the physical mediums we use. He contrasts conservative oral societies, which relied on memory to preserve tradition, with progressive literary societies, where writing enabled external reflection and critique. This shifted during the rise of Christianity, which pioneered the transition from cumbersome sacred scrolls to the convenient, flippable codex, permanently revolutionising scriptural study. Before literary classics carried the weight of empires, writing began as bookkeeping, utilising clay tablets and papyrus to record ancient financial transactions.

When classical civilisation collapsed, monastic communities transformed reading into lectio divina--a deeply contemplative, silent spiritual discipline. Their painstaking work copying manuscripts rescued vital texts from destruction. The subsequent invention of tools like indexes, alongside the normalisation of silent reading, birthed the university system, transforming literacy from a public vocal performance into an individualistic engine for modern academic intellectualism.

​Gutenberg’s printing press democratised information. This rise of "print capitalism" standardised regional vernacular languages, forging the foundations of modern nation-states and book nationalism. By the Industrial Revolution, steam-powered presses flooded the public square with newspapers and magazines. Combined with a vibrant coffeehouse culture, this new media ecology fuelled political and social movements.

The 20th century established professional publishers and critics as elite gatekeepers, but it also exposed the dark side of the "Typographic Man," where print was weaponised for Nazi propaganda and symbolic book burnings. Today, algorithmic feeds and AI have trapped readers in digital ecosystems designed for perpetual distraction and information overload. Screens promote hyper-fragmented skimming rather than the deep, linear focus of physical pages.

​Ultimately, books still matter as they offer resonance. Balancing silent isolation with community and practicing intentional re-reading remains our ultimate cognitive sanctuary.

[Andrew McClary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Matters by Joel Halldorf
Ask someone if they believe reading matters, and they will almost certainly tell you it does, even if they don’t read much themselves. And yet it's no secret that literacy rates are increasingly unstable as people read for pleasure at an increasingly lower rate. Joel Halldorf seeks to present why this has happened and why it's so important that we reverse this trend.

I started this book with two primary concerns. The first was that the book would focus too much on why reading mattered rather than on why it matters*. Halldorf thankfully avoids this and gives ample time to both the history of reading and its benefits, as well as the modern landscape and how reading plays into the problems of today. Halldorf’s history is expansive, covering everything from its commercial origin to its massive religious influence into the printing press and modern mass availability. The book spends much time explaining how we got here, but it also spends a great deal of time explaining our modern relationship with reading. The consistent drop in reading in the 2000s and the sudden resurgence of the 2020s, thanks to the likes of “Booktok” and other social media influencers, is explored in great length. That brings me to my second concern, that the book would be a hit piece on modernity and the technological age, and that it should be reduced back to a book-dominated one. Luckily, although Halldorf has no problem criticising modern developments, he never falls into empty nostalgia for an earlier time. It is Halldorf’s understanding of both the past and present, alongside his insistence on not just reading more but reading better, that makes this book worth reading. I still would have liked a greater emphasis on modern trends, which, even if it risked dating the book a bit, would have further explored why the modern reading landscape looks the way it does. Ideas like how young women came to dominate the reading space now, and the self-help book epidemic that has swept the world, are just two examples of interesting contemporary trends that could have been discussed. Regardless, “Reading Matters” proves to be a concise, worthwhile read to understand the modern age and how to read better. 4 Stars

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Matters by Joel Halldorf (NYU Press) is less a defense of books than a historical and cultural meditation on what reading actually is and how the technologies surrounding texts shape the way humans think, remember, skim, interpret, and engage with ideas. One of the book’s greatest strengths is that it carefully distinguishes the medium from the act of reading itself. Rather than falling into simplistic “print good, digital bad” arguments, it takes seriously the ways every technological shift—from papyrus scrolls to codices to e-books and social media—changes reading practices and even cognition.

The sections tracing the historical progression of reading were especially compelling. The discussion of papyrus versus codex formats, the printing press and the Reformation, and the relationship between capitalism and reading culture all worked well because they showed reading as something historically contingent rather than timeless. The book is remarkably expansive in scope, moving across centuries with ease while remaining highly readable. Even when engaging academic scholarship, the prose never feels inaccessible or overloaded with citation. The author integrates quotations thoughtfully and naturally, which makes sense given his background as a professor of religion.

I was particularly interested in the recurring question of deep reading versus skimming. The book does an excellent job showing that concerns about distracted or fragmented reading are not entirely new, while also acknowledging that modern digital environments create unprecedented pressures toward speed and partial attention. Some of the strongest moments come when the author discusses people retraining themselves for sustained reading and concentration. Importantly, though, digital formats are not villainized. There is caution, certainly, but also nuance, even a brief mention of #BookTok and the ways online spaces can cultivate reading communities.

Ironically, I read this book entirely on my Kindle, which created an interesting tension while reading. At moments the book made me feel vaguely guilty about digital reading, yet my Kindle also allowed me to carry the text everywhere and read constantly—outside in bright sunlight, while waiting around town, even in bad weather. I finished it quickly not because I was skimming, but because the text was always accessible. That experience actually highlighted one area I wish the book had explored more fully: accessibility. There is surprisingly little discussion of Braille, screen readers, adaptive technologies, or the ways digital formats can radically expand access to reading.

The book is not without flaws. At times its breadth comes at the expense of depth, and some areas felt noticeably underdeveloped. Given the subject matter, I expected more sustained attention to pre-Christian writing cultures, especially cuneiform tablets and the earliest developments of writing systems. The discussion is also heavily Western-focused and, unsurprisingly given the author’s field, religion occupies an outsized role throughout. Occasionally this emphasis worked against the broader argument; for example, the section debating Jesus’ literacy felt more forcefully argued than necessary. Raising the debate would have been sufficient without the need to take a firm position.

Similarly, the chapters on Nazi propaganda and social media, while individually interesting, felt somewhat disconnected from the book’s central concern with reading practices. They often became discussions of media manipulation more generally rather than reading itself. I found myself wishing for a tighter framing, perhaps through figures like Bonhoeffer or through a more explicit connection between propaganda and modes of reading.

I also would have appreciated more concrete discussion of modern reading cultures and practical strategies for fostering reading today. As someone who teaches students and constantly encounters the realities of skimming, fractured attention, and reading avoidance, I wanted more actionable insight into what educators, librarians, and readers can actually do in response to these shifts.

Still, Reading Matters succeeds because it asks genuinely important questions without collapsing into nostalgia or technological panic. It is thoughtful, historically ambitious, and consistently engaging. I’d especially recommend it to readers interested in book history, librarianship, media studies, humanities pedagogy, and anyone who spends time thinking about what reading does to us and what happens when the ways we read begin to change.

Thank you to NYU Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read, and reading books in particular has been a favorite pastime since I was a young boy.

We tend to think that it’s a new phenomenon that people walking the sidewalks staring into their phones are in danger of stepping off the curb into oncoming traffic. But it’s not that new - I have a distinct memory, as a child, of my older sister warning me against bumping into things as I wandered from one room of the house to the next reading from an open book in my hands.

Perhaps that’s not something to brag about. But it is something to give you an idea of why I picked up today’s book.

In Joel Halldorf’s Reading Matters he traces the story of reading and writing from earliest times right up to the present. He takes us from clay tablets to scrolls, from bound, handwritten manuscripts to bound books of hand-pressed pages, and from there to mass produced books, newspapers and magazines and on to the internet and social media. He traces writing materials from clay to papyrus, to calfskin, to paper, and then to the digital screen.

Halldorf is Swedish, and he focuses on the European history of writing and reading. He is also a Professor in Church History, so it’s not surprising that he spends a good deal of time exploring writing by medieval Christian monks and the beautiful manuscripts they produced.

His insights into reading in the Digital Age are interesting too - they caused me to contemplate changes to my own approach to reading.

Throughout the history he traces, Halldorf contrasts the concepts of deep reading and skimming. The former has become progressively less common and the latter more so as time has gone on and technologies have changed.

Medieval monks penned their manuscripts in something called “scriptio continua”, which means that the letters all immediately followed each other - with no spaces between words nor any punctuation. To read such a work was of course more challenging than a modern text, and the reader had to sit with those continuous letters and actively slow down to pull out the words and phrases.

This approach encouraged concentration and engagement with the text and encouraged readers to re-read to contemplate what they had read and ensure their understanding. This is deep reading. Books were scarce at the time, meaning few other written materials were lying around competing for the reader’s attention.

Today in the digital age, with hundreds of thousands of books published each year, and other written materials in abundance, writing is anything but scarce. Writing appears on many subjects, and readers consume written works for their practical relevance more than for edification. This makes skimming to get the relevant points out more common now.

Halldorf has produced a wide-ranging exploration of the history of reading and writing. Book lovers will enjoy this one!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are reading this, you probably agree!
Few people would doubt that reading matters, but in this book author Joel Halldorf presents an enlightening view of how reading and the availability of reading material have mattered throughout history, in ways big and small. I have been a lifelong lover of books, but Halldorf made me think about aspects of book that I had not considered.
He begins by discussing the influence of religious writing, and I laughed out loud at the title of the first chapter, “Could Jesus Raise the Dead but Not Read Books?”. Books like The Bible and similar works in other religions had two very important influences. First, of course, they helped people understand their religions. In addition, though, the availability of religious works encourages people to read and to teach their family members to read, which then gave them accessibility to other written works. He then continues throughout history , discussing the influence of books on the spread of scientific knowledge and the rise of democracy.
He says that books are threads that connect people, and I realized how true that is!
The last section of the book focuses on the new media and how this is affecting and will affect our reading. Like the rest of the book, it was enlightening and thought-provoking, although I think he does not give appropriate recognition to media like Kindles and similar readers that provide good reading experiences without the distractions of ads and notifications of messages and similar distractions that we see on other devices. He concludes with a thought-provoking section on Why Books Matter that provoked me to make a note that he has convinced me to slow down! Good advice!
I do feel I need to give an alert about this book. The author is a professor of church history, and I believe this is the reason for the very extensive discussion of religion and books. This is a very appropriate subject, but Halldorf’s treatment was so detailed and long in the first few chapters that if I had not had an advance review copy and felt an obligation to continue reading I would probably have put the book aside. If you feel that way, I strongly recommend you persist.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Edelweiss and Netgalley.

[Valerie Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A special thanks to NYU Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Reading Matters by Joel Halldorf is a thoughtful, reflective exploration of why reading—especially deep, sustained reading—still matters in an age dominated by screens, speed, and constant distraction. Rather than offering a nostalgic lament about “kids these days,” Halldorf makes a compelling cultural and spiritual case for reading as a formative practice that shapes how we think, believe, and engage with the world.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its blend of personal reflection, cultural criticism, and intellectual history. Halldorf connects reading to identity formation, moral imagination, and democratic life, showing how books invite us into conversations across time and difference. His discussion of how digital culture alters attention spans and weakens our capacity for deep engagement feels especially relevant, and he avoids alarmism by grounding his concerns in research and lived experience.

The book shines most when Halldorf links reading to community and tradition—particularly how shared texts help form common language and values. These sections feel especially powerful for educators, readers, and anyone invested in preserving thoughtful discourse in a fragmented world.

At times, the book leans heavily into reflection rather than actionable solutions, which may leave some readers wanting more concrete strategies for cultivating reading habits in a digital age. Still, this feels like a minor limitation in an otherwise rich and meaningful work.

Overall, Reading Matters is an affirming, intellectually generous book that reminds us that reading is not just a hobby, but a way of being in the world. It’s an excellent choice for educators, book lovers, and anyone who believes that stories, ideas, and sustained attention still have the power to shape who we are.
#Netgalley

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author asks if we are still capable of deep reading. By the way, I didn't skim nor take The Evelyn Woods Speed Reading Course mentioned later! Both those reading techniques are inside on the pages!

My personal interest peaked when we reached the chapters addressing the 1700s & onward to present day. The first 40% of the book does start from the beginning of time with literacy during Biblical times. Jesus & his followers aren't even spared a discussion! The literacy & the ability to write of Jesus & those who lived then gets coverage.

I enjoyed the chapters on immigration & how various cultures connected solely because of reading, They benefited due to the fact reading in schools became mandatory both here & foreign lands. His research into the select group who were first priviledged to be able to read centuries before was thought provoking. Written propaganda & its role in voicing opinions & creating danger resulting even in wars was something I never considered.

The reading of emails isn't overlooked & do you know who were the first 2 world leaders to communicate, exchange & read their email?

I own a book in my home library that is mentioned here (A. Scott Berg) so I appreciated his discussion on what NYC book editor was one of the first to handhold some famous authors who we all read in school in the last 50 years. Until then, book editors didn't include coddling in their job description.

Reading being the the focus here....E-books & digital reading aren't necessarily protrayed as the enemy. It is quite true we receive information on multiple platforms & the public's media habits are not fixed . If you rely on the timeline presented, reading is forever happening & evolving.

I thank NetGalley, the publisher (NYU Press) & the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair & honest review.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Matters by Joel Halldorf was a fantastic read! I love books about books, reading, publishing, history of books and history of reading. While some of the material was familiar from other similar reads I never felt bored or that it wasn’t fresh information. The author has a wonderful style, the ability to write the detailed history with getting bogged down. Bravo! The latter chapters have fresh information and a perspective for the digital age. Absolutely top-notch bibliography… I found many more reads on this topic. From the description, “this newly revised volume presents a sweeping history of transformations in reading and writing, tracing precedents in the invention of writing, the shift from clay tablets to papyrus and from scrolls to codices, the advent of printing, and the development of industrial printing. It explores how each new format of writing has encouraged new ways to think, relate, and organize the world. Essentially, it is not only what we read that is important, but how we read.” If this is a topic you are drawn to, you will enjoy this. I cannot wait to get a hardcover copy and see all the illustrations.

#ReadingMatters #NetGalley

[Jamilah Green | Apothecary Tales Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid reader, I was excited to dive into Reading Matters. Halldorf traces the evolution of written communication from the codex to today’s digital landscape with a balanced, thoughtful perspective. I appreciated that he didn’t dismiss digital reading but explored both its benefits and challenges.
His reflection on a 2012 prediction that print would disappear was timely as statistics show print is still holding strong. As someone who’s intentionally fostered a love of reading in my own children, this resonated.
Overall, this book is both informative and reflective, offering a meaningful look at how our reading habits continue to evolve. The future of written communication is still being determined. Reading Matters lays a well-researched foundation to explore this ongoing evolution. It was both informative and thought-provoking for anyone who cares about reading.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I read every day, so this book caught my eye. I love getting lost in a good book that grabs and holds my attention. It tells of book history through the ages and how far we’ve come. It was interesting to read that up until the Middle Ages or so; most texts and books were read aloud since in this day and age,people read silently. It was also interesting to read how reading an actual book is different from reading on an electronic device.

[Dharani]

It's interesting, but it was a lot more Christianity focused than I had expected based on the title, cover, and description. Its also quite Eurocentric. I had expected a history of global literacy. The author is a Swedish church scholar, so he is writing from his area of expertise. I don't want to give the book a particular rating because it wasn't what I had expected. Its not that it's good or bad, it's just not what I had hoped to read about when I picked it up.

Disclaimer: Netgallery Review

[Hanna Bexley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book that delves deep into the history of books as a medium and ways of reading.
For me, the last chapters on reading in the digital age and ways we can restore the reading ecosystem for a more attentive kind of reading were most important.
I would recommend it to anyone who reads and strives to promote reading, as we know, reading matters!