Is literary culture in America on the decline? The decline of reading in all age groups is certainly well-documented and is grave cause for alarm. And so, when The Washington Post recently announced the demise of its vaunted books section, the response by Adam Kirsch in The Atlantic that “The Literary Ecosystem Is Dying” seemed justified at first glance. Kirsch, a seasoned reviewer himself, explains his theory for the vicious cycle he is observing:
“People don’t want to read book reviews—at least, not enough people to make publishing them worthwhile. It’s a vicious circle. As people feel less of a need to keep up with new books, they stop reading reviews; publications respond by cutting books coverage, so readers don’t hear about new books; as a result, they buy fewer books, which makes publications think they’re not worth covering.”
Read Full Article »