The Death of Mass Literacy

In this episode of The Editor's Desk, Rusty Reno interviews Wessie du Toit about his article "The Future of Reading" in the June-July 2025 issue of First Things Magazine. They discuss the historical context of reading, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the present day, noting the decline in deep reading due to the rise of television and smartphones. They explore the implications of this decline for democracy and culture, considering whether mass literacy was an anomaly and if society is reverting to a norm where deep reading is confined to a small percentage of the population. The conversation touches on the changing nature of media, the importance of deep literacy, and the potential for a cultural stratification based on reading habits, ultimately concluding with the importance of ritualizing reading to maintain its value and enjoyment.