James Marriott's "The New Dark Ages" Examines the Decline of Reading and Its Political Consequences

James Marriott's book "The New Dark Ages" argues that reading culture has declined, with television as the initial cause and smartphones as a super-accelerant. The book traces reading's role in civilization, from the invention of writing to the printing press and the great reading culture of 1750–1950, which shaped science, the novel, and democratic reform. Marriott contends that contemporary politicians are not serious readers, focusing on image and social media, and that this decline across all parties leads to politics driven by sound-bites and slogans, fostering belief in nonsense claims. A reviewer, a retired university teacher, notes that college students struggle with sophisticated texts and that the decline is unevenly distributed, affecting job prospects and equality. The reviewer also warns that without a critical mass of active audiences, high art forms like literature will decline. Despite potential dismissal as culture pessimism, the reviewer deems the book important and recommends it. The book is 167 pages and was published by Penguin Random House. A coda mentions Henry Oliver's review and interview with Marriott.