An illiterate generation?

Two related news stories caught my attention this week. One was entitled "They Can't Read: [Hoover Institution Senior Fellow} Victor Davis Hanson Shares Horror Stories That Drove Him Out Of University." The other piece is called "Gen Z are arriving to college unable to even read a sentence – professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates."

As the titles imply, there are entire cohorts of young people emerging from public education functionally illiterate. The latter article begins: "As Gen Z ditch books at record levels, students are arriving to classrooms unable to complete assigned reading on par with previous expectations. It's leaving colleges no choice but to lower their expectations. One shocked professor has described young adults showing up to class, unable to read a single sentence."

The crisis of literacy goes back decades, arguably generations. "Why Johnny Can't Read" was first published in 1955 and drew national attention to the failures of the "look-say" method of teaching (as opposed to phonics) that signaled the beginning of the end for literacy.

We are so obsessed with books in our family that this hits home ... hard.

We've also had lively discussions in our household about the issue. Is reading even "necessary" in our modern society? Clearly illiteracy isn't an insuperable handicap for everyone. History is rife with brilliant people who succeeded despite their inability to read. Today's younger generations are clearly succeeding even though reading is no longer a priority.

I guess what I find distressing is our modern culture seems to actively cultivate functional illiteracy. Children are surrounded by screens instead of books. They're encouraged to watch videos about something rather than reading about it. Parents don't model reading; they model viewing. Artificial intelligence is poised to take the need to read away from us. Children no longer grow up with the expectation that reading is not only educational, but fun. University professors are reaping the rewards of this change in attitude and ability.

Recently a reader related a frustrating experience with an AI bot and asked rhetorically, "You'll do better finding your answers in a book somewhere. What will we do when books are gone?"

An excellent question. We're on a personal mission in our family not to let that happen. Let's hope future generations are able to overcome their illiteracy.

More book-themed stuff

I collect links and photos of book-themed stuff as I come across them. (My last collection can be seen here.) In no particular order, enjoy my latest collection of book-themed stuff.

Outdoor books?

This made me chuckle.

Reading is healthy. In an article entitled "Get Reading: This Is How Books Can Impact Your Mental Health," the author writes: "New research suggests that reading could be hugely beneficial for our mental health, with classic books written by authors such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens being proven to help relieve depression and chronic pain. In a 2020 study published by Oxford University Press, 'challenging language' was found to send 'rocket boosters' to our mind that can help boost our mental health."

When I'm inclined to despair over the lack of shelf space for our books, here's a comforting article on "10 Famous Book Hoarders" which makes me understand that our (well, my) problem is trivial by comparison.

Bonus photo of a relevant book bag:

Or how about this piece on "The Joys of Used Bookstores"?

In an example of creativity, the home of actress/singer Ashley Tisdale (I had to look up who she was) was going to be featured in the magazine Architectural Digest. Distressed that her bookshelves were empty, she sent her husband to the store to buy 400 random volumes prior to the house tour to make the shelves look respectable (and then admitted it).

Comics for booklovers and writers:

Cool home library:

Uh-huh. Per the Eagles, "She is headed for the cheatin' side of town."

This library courtyard has books for bench legs, titled as famous novels. Nice.

In a bookstore called Sandman Books in Punta Gorda, Florida, the owners built a book arch from upcycled books.

I envy artistic types.

Speaking of artistic types, here's someone who created a miniature library inside a can.

Here's an article offering advice on "How to nurture a personal library," noting that "What distinguishes a library from a random pile of books is the considered process of curation."

Historical marvels. The caption reads: "A 18th century book containing tiny books on a pop-up shelf, made by a bookbinder in the Netherlands around 1757." Incredible craftsmanship.

Or this. The caption read: "300-year-old library tool that enabled a researcher to have seven books open at once." Someone's comment: "This is the early version of keeping all the tabs open at once on your browser."

An old bookmobile.

Here's a Twitter thread about a labyrinthine bookstore in Saratoga Springs, New York called Lyrical Ballad. Wish I could visit it.

Here's a neat story: "The Oldest Treasures From 12 Great Libraries." Entries include the oldest surviving cookbook in the West (A.D. 830), a compendium of medical knowledge dating to about A.D. 1244, and the oldest surviving version of the complete New Testament (A.D. 330-60).

This is an interesting article: "The Struggle to Unearth the World’s First Author." The urge to express one's self via the written word goes back farther than we think.

Books in a bathroom. While I love the look, I can't help but feel this isn't good for the books.

Cool bookstore on wheels.

Here's samples of an artist's work who uses books as a carving medium.

Hard to argue this point.

Book cart in the Appalachian Mountains (1940s?).

It takes a couple minutes for the brain to understand what the eye is seeing. Cool photo.

This appears to be the aftermath of a flood at the Alta Acqua Bookshop in Venice, Italy, in 2016.

As both a book lover and an introvert, I approve of this meme.

Poster? Christmas card? Whatever, it's cute.

Yup.

Also yup.

A tiny bookshop.

Apparently this bus-stop library is not real, but a draft of an idea.

A walking library, 1939.

The Zhongshuge Bookstore in Dijiangyan, China

Here are some interior design tips for "What to Do if Your House is Overflowing with Books." Personally I thought most of the advice was "meh," but then again I refuse to admit I have a book problem.

Along similar veins, here's an article entitled "On the Difficulty of Getting Rid of Books." Ahem. 

Apparently in 2003, approximately 2.5 million unsold books from the UK romance book publisher Mills & Boon were used in the reconstruction of an M6 motorway in the UK.

Here's an article on "Why Used Books Make the Best Travel Souvenirs."

Here's a New York Public Library bookmobile from 1950.

Someone's lucky thrift-store find.

Cool lamp.

Unique shelving:

A little book humor.

I have no idea where this is or what the context is. I just thought it was a neat photo.

Unique set-up. I'm trying to figure out whether this is AI-generated.

A charming house pic.

The caption for this photo said: "The librarian at Lorain, Ohio Public Library is looking at the 50,000 book chaos after one shelf fell over and the rest fell like dominoes. 1971. (Cleanup on aisle, um, every aisle!)

Different terms for book lovers around the world. (Ink drinker! Chapter maggot!)

According to the caption, this is the "Christmas book tree sponsored by Hatchards books at St. Pancras Station" (presumably London). Additionally, "The little booths at the bottom have speakers that read you a story while you wait for your train."

Another Christmas book tree.

Nice book nook.

Here's a puzzle: "Can you spot the 50 famous books hidden in this image?" (Click to enlarge.)

And the answers:

These are "pack horse librarians" who serviced the Appalachian communities in the mid 1930s to early 1940s. They were mostly women who rode on horses or mules to deliver library books to remote communities during the Great Depression.

Apparently a family bought a house built in 1912 and discovered it had hundreds of old books in the attic. Can you imagine....?

Apparently this was posted in someone's Little Free Library.

Here's an interesting article: "'Bookshelf wealth' isn't new. So why is it taking off?"

And here's where some people get their "bookshelf wealth": A company called "Books by the Foot" (which, seriously, sounds like a fascinating place to work).

A thing of beauty:

As is this:

Here's a nifty collection of book-edge art – art painted on the edges of books.

I like the wrap-around bookshelves of this house (the Walstrom residence by John Lautner, built in 1969).

Clever corner arrangement.

Nice article: "Inside the World's Most Beloved Independent Bookstores."

A nice story: "Bookstore Was Making $12 Before Owner Asked The Internet For Help, Was Revived For A New Life."

And an interesting story: "The Book That Sank on the Titanic and Burned in the Blitz."

Lucky find! The caption read, "Found this really cool giant book coffee table on Facebook Marketplace. The 'spines' open as drawers. Each book is actually leather bound." (Excuse me while I drool.)

Neat thrift-store item someone found: Murder mystery writer's desk teapot.

Another thrift-store find:

Bookstalls at Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye, Wales

Don't be like Lauren.  

Here's a conservatory being used as a library.

The caption for this photo read: "My husband agreed to the fixer-upper I wanted if I let him build a library. Three years later and it's finally done!" (And a beautiful job, too.)

Nice.

Apparently this is a retired teacher who now drives a portable library to encourage reading.

Another patio arrangement.

No idea where this is, but it's pretty.

Older Daughter subscribes to a program that generates AI images. I asked her to have it generate images of dusty old bookstores. Here are four of them:

This is one of a collection of 12 giant books made in 1715 by a priest in New Spain. Someone's snarky comment: "I'm guessing created before the invention of reading glasses?"

Interesting article: "Yes, It's Okay to Throw Away a Book."

Unknown time and place, but such an expressive child.

Lifehacker tips: "Three Ways to Double Your Bookshelf Capacity." Meh.

Interesting article: "Yes, People Do Buy Books; Despite viral claims, Americans buy over a billion books a year."

Interesting concept, but sounds uncomfortable.

The caption reads: "Sometimes daily commuters will know they won't get wireless service for a while, and trying to get it will chrew through their battery before the work day even starts. So they all brought books to pass the time."

I love this idea.

Abomination: Faux library.

Upcycled knife block.

A boy sits reading in a bombed bookstore, London, 1940.

Ahem. This is my default Christmas gift request every year.

And finally, this. I know the feeling.

That's all, folks! I've already started a new file collection more book-themed stuff, which I'll post at some future date.