James Marriott, a columnist for The Times, spent his school holidays immersed in books, inspired by his father, a teacher who nurtured his love for literature in the early 2000s. Now, twenty-five years later, Marriott believes that smartphones have significantly reduced people’s reading habits across all age groups and social backgrounds. He has given up using his own smartphone, saying that “George Eliot is no match” for the distractions of modern technology. He is concerned that the public’s increasing habit of scrolling through content online not only diminishes appreciation for literature but also risks moving society toward a more “mystical, tribal, and autocratic” world. These worries form the basis of Marriott’s first book, The New Dark Ages, which explores the rise and fall of print culture from the 16th century to the present, including the influence of modern content creators like Mr. Beast. Marriott argues that literacy has allowed humanity to develop the ability to engage in complex thinking and argument, but he also acknowledges that conversation is not without value. He claims that literate civilization has never produced a work of art that matches the stark, heroic quality of ancient epics like The Iliad or Beowulf. However, his advocacy for reading often relies on exaggerated comparisons, such as stating that “no actor on earth can show with his or her face what Jane Austen can show us about the human heart in half a paragraph.” He also reflects on the personal impact of literature, saying that Elena Ferrante’s writing taught him “what it is like to be a teenage girl.” Beyond literature, Marriott criticizes the influence of social media on politics, contrasting a traditional print report with a TikTok clip from the same war zone. He suggests that written articles are more likely to offer context and explanation, while a TikTok video might only provoke an emotional response through imagery. However, the book’s argument sometimes shifts. It begins by blaming smartphones for the decline in reading for pleasure, but later notes that “very rich” people can afford to keep their children away from addictive screens, while poorer families, often working multiple jobs, lack such resources. Marriott clarifies that “post-literate” does not mean “incapable of reading and writing,” and he acknowledges that “literacy still has a future.” The New Dark Ages is aimed at people who have grown distant from books and are concerned about their screen time. Beneath its grandiose tone, however, lies a more personal narrative: the story of growing up believing that literature defines the world, only to discover that a smartphone can challenge that belief. While Marriott’s book is passionate and thought-provoking, it sometimes struggles to balance its sweeping claims with more nuanced perspectives on the role of technology in modern life.