Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
People may be reading now more than ever (emails, texts, social-media posts). But fewer and fewer people are reading actual books. The Atlantic’s staff writer Rose Horowitch, who wrote the August cover story, “The End of Reading Is Here (theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/) ,” explains what might be lost in a “postliterate” age—and it’s a lot more than books.
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People may be reading now more than ever (emails, texts, social-media posts). But fewer and fewer people are reading actual books. The Atlantic’s staff writer Rose Horowitch, who wrote the August cover story, “The End of Reading Is Here (theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/) ,” explains what might be lost in a “postliterate” age—and it’s a lot more than books.
- - -
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener (theatlantic.com/listener) .
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices (podcastchoices.com/adchoices)
