The Bookshelf: A Post-Literate Age?

Matthew J. Franck expressed skepticism regarding a small, inexpensive Chinese-made e-book device that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. According to a report in Public Discourse, the device lacks graphics, touchscreens, color, and backlights to help users focus on text without the distractions of a phone.

Franck noted that while the device aims to encourage reading, an Atlantic writer reported reading only ten hours of a large nonfiction work over several weeks using the tool. Franck questioned how much information readers might retain from such a small scrolling screen.

The author also highlighted the differences between digital and physical books, noting that he switched from a PDF to a hard copy of Laura Kalman’s book on court-packing to better engage with its granular historical details. He stated that he eventually reproduced his digital markings in the physical version once it arrived.