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Reading Matters: A History for the Digital Age
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Traces 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.
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.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Never did I think organized religion would have such a profound impact on the history of books, nor did I ever believe I’d read a work by a church historian, but such is the beauty of NetGalley!
This brilliant book traces how we’ve read across centuries: scrolls to codexes, manuscripts to print, screens to...what comes next? The question isn’t whether reading is dying (it’s not!) but how our relationship with text keeps shifting. And how the inconsequential becomes earth-shattering.
Would you have considered the popularity of the printing press being strengthened by Martin Luther’s pamphlets? Or words weren’t always written with spaces between them?
Every page, I swear you learn something new or consider a different perspective. Such fascinating reading! Because reading technologies shape not just what we read but how we think.
Academic without being dry, historical without being distant. If books are bridges, this one connects past reading revolutions to our current moment with precision and heart.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
This brilliant book traces how we’ve read across centuries: scrolls to codexes, manuscripts to print, screens to...what comes next? The question isn’t whether reading is dying (it’s not!) but how our relationship with text keeps shifting. And how the inconsequential becomes earth-shattering.
Would you have considered the popularity of the printing press being strengthened by Martin Luther’s pamphlets? Or words weren’t always written with spaces between them?
Every page, I swear you learn something new or consider a different perspective. Such fascinating reading! Because reading technologies shape not just what we read but how we think.
Academic without being dry, historical without being distant. If books are bridges, this one connects past reading revolutions to our current moment with precision and heart.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews