There have been times in our culture when being considered “bookish” meant you were a social outcast.
When “bookworm” was used as a pejorative term, used to describe and anti-social loner.
From this Burgess Meredith character in the most celebratedTwilight Zoneepisode ever.
To the Tri-Lambs inRevenge of the Nerds.
Non-readers have often been considered the cool ones, even in academic tweaks.
Or the Alpha Betas inNerds.
They’re avoiding all forms of literature because book are so scary and intimidating.
My jaw dropped, Dames said.
… [T]hey dont know how.
Middle and high schools have stopped asking them to.
And not just a small percentage.
Not just Bluto, Ogre or Melon.
This is no longer the exceptions, but the rule.
Listen, I’m not about to pass myself off as a Classical Literature snob.
I’d be lying if I said I’ve readTo Kill a MockingbirdorWuthering Heightsor Mark Twain.
But it doesn’t matter what genre you’re into, as long as you read.
And it was a celebrity tell-all.
I mean, what do you do at the beach or relaxing on a vacation for fucks sake?
And they gave us the term Penny Dreadfuls.
Reading someone else’s thoughts.
Seeing their emotion state described on the page, and so on.
It was a great civilizing force throughout society.
And regarded as a pure good.
Scared by the very thought of getting through a Stephen King bestseller?
More afraid ofBonfire of the Vanitiesthan actual bonfires?
So great job, America.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get back to my book.
