When I read Michelle Levy and Tom Mole’s The Broadview Introduction to Book History, one passage stood out to me. On pages 5 and 6, they describe how reading has changed over time, from people reading intensively, focusing deeply on a few important texts, to people reading extensively, moving quickly through many different books. They explain that reading styles have always adapted to social and technological change. This idea made me stop and think about how I read today.
In the past, reading was slow and careful. Books were expensive and rare, so readers returned to the same text again and again, often reading aloud or in groups. Today, we have access to more information than ever before. We read messages, posts, articles, and ebooks every day. I realized that my own reading feels more like “extensive” reading. I move quickly, searching for key points and jumping between sources.
Still, I miss the feeling of being completely absorbed in one book. When I take time to sit down with a printed book, without my phone nearby, I notice more. I read slower, but I understand better. Levy and Mole’s passage reminded me that how we read reflects the world we live in. Maybe the goal isn’t to go back to the past but to find balance to keep the deep attention of older reading habits while embracing the variety and access that modern reading gives us.