Stephen Carter Books

The importance of books to democracy

Friday June 19, 2009

Have you ever thought about the importance of books to democracy?  I have in mind not just literacy, or reading, but actual, physical books.

I have been giving the matter a lot of thought lately, trying to understand why democracy spread as books spread, not as literacy spread; and why, as books decline, the respect for the opinions of others that lies at the heart of the democratic process also seems to be dying.

I am working on a book on this subject, and I have recently been lecturing on why books – actual, physical books – are crucial to the future of American democracy.  A short version of my commentary can be found here.  A link to a video of a recent lecture is coming shortly.

Posted by Stephen Carter at 05:20pm