Today many people take reading for granted, but we remain some way
off from attaining literacy for the global human population. And
whilst we think we know what reading is, it remains in many ways a
mysterious process, or set of processes. The effects of reading are
myriad: it can be informative, distracting, moving, erotically
arousing, politically motivating, spiritual, and much, much more.
At different times and in different places reading means different
things. In this Very Short Introduction Belinda Jack explores the
fascinating history of literacy, and the opportunities reading
opens. For much of human history reading was the preserve of the
elite, and most reading meant being read to. Innovations in
printing, paper-making, and transport, combined with the rise of
public education from the late eighteenth century on, brought a
dramatic rise in literacy in many parts of the world. Established
links between a nation's levels of literacy and its economy led to
the promotion of reading for political ends. But, equally, reading
has been associated with subversive ideas, leading to censorship
through multiple channels: denying access to education, controlling
publishing, destroying libraries, and even the burning of authors
and their works. Indeed, the works of Voltaire were so often burned
that an enterprising Parisian publisher produced a fire-proof
edition, decorated with a phoenix. But, as Jack demonstrates,
reading is a collaborative act between an author and a reader, and
one which can never be wholly controlled. Telling the story of
reading, from the ancient world to digital reading and restrictions
today, Belinda Jack explores why it is such an important aspect of
our society. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series
from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost
every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to
get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine
facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make
interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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