The Edge of the Precipice : Why Read Literature in the Digital Age?

Introduction : A return to the educated imagination / Paul Socken -- Why I read War and Peace on a Kindle (and bought the book when I was done) / Michael Austin -- Reading in a digital age : notes on why the novel and the Internet are opposites, and why the latter both undermines the former and makes it more necessary / Sven Birkerts -- Solitary reading in an age of compulsory sharing / Drew Nelles -- Literature as virtual reality / Stephen Brockmann -- How Molière and Co. helped me get my students hooked on literature / Leonard Rosmarin -- A world without books? / Vincent Giroud -- Language speaks us : Sophie's tree and the paradox of self / Mark Kingwell -- The end of reading / Alberto Manguel -- Cold heaven, cold comfort : should we read or teach literature now? / J. Hillis Miller -- Fragments from an entirely subjective story of reading / Lori Saint-Martin -- A very good chance of getting somewhere else / Katia Grubisic -- Thinking deeply in reading and writing / Keith Oatley -- Don't panic : reading literature in the digital age / Ekaterina Rogatchevskaia -- Why read against the grain? : confessions of an addict / Gerhard van der Linde. "Can a case be made for reading literature in the digital age? Does literature still matter in this era of instant information? Is it even possible to advocate for serious, sustained reading with all manner of social media distracting us, fragmenting our concentration, and demanding short, rapid communication? In The Edge of the Precipice, Paul Socken brings together a thoughtful group of writers, editors, philosophers, librarians, archivists, and literary critics from Canada, the US, France, England, South Africa, and Australia to contemplate the state of literature in the twenty-first century. Including essays by outstanding contributors such as Alberto Manguel, Mark Kingwell, Lori Saint-Martin, Sven Birkerts, Katia Grubisic, Drew Nelles, and J. Hillis Miller, this collection presents a range of perspectives about the importance of reading literature today."--Publisher website. Can A Case Be Made For Reading Literature In The Digital Age? Does Literature Still Matter In This Era Of Instant Information? Is It Even Possible To Advocate For Serious, Sustained Reading With All Manner Of Social Media Distracting Us, Fragmenting Our Concentration, And Demanding Short, Rapid Communication? In The Edge Of The Precipice, Paul Socken Brings Together A Thoughtful Group Of Writers, Editors, Philosophers, Librarians, Archivists, And Literary Critics From Canada, The Us, France, England, South Africa, And Australia To Contemplate The State Of Literature In The Twenty-first Century. Including Essays By Outstanding Contributors Such As Alberto Manguel, Mark Kingwell, Lori Saint-martin, Sven Birkerts, Katia Grubisic, Drew Nelles, And J. Hillis Miller, This Collection Presents A Range Of Perspectives About The Importance Of Reading Literature Today. -- Publisher Website. Introduction : A Return To The Educated Imagination / Paul Socken -- Why I Read War And Peace On A Kindle (and Bought The Book When I Was Done) / Michael Austin -- Reading In A Digital Age : Notes On Why The Novel And The Internet Are Opposites, And Why The Latter Both Undermines The Former And Makes It More Necessary / Sven Birkerts -- Solitary Reading In An Age Of Compulsory Sharing / Drew Nelles -- Literature As Virtual Reality / Stephen Brockmann -- How Molière And Co. Helped Me Get My Students Hooked On Literature / Leonard Rosmarin -- A World Without Books? / Vincent Giroud -- Language Speaks Us : Sophie's Tree And The Paradox Of Self / Mark Kingwell -- The End Of Reading / Alberto Manguel -- Cold Heaven, Cold Comfort : Should We Read Or Teach Literature Now? / J. Hillis Miller -- Fragments From An Entirely Subjective Story Of Reading / Lori Saint-martin -- A Very Good Chance Of Getting Somewhere Else / Katia Grubisic -- Thinking Deeply In Reading And Writing / Keith Oatley -- Don't Panic : Reading Literature In The Digital Age / Ekaterina Rogatchevskaia -- Why Read Against The Grain? : Confessions Of An Addict / Gerhard Van Der Linde. Edited By Paul Socken. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format. Can a case be made for reading literature in the digital age? Does literature still matter in this era of instant information? Is it even possible to advocate for serious, sustained reading with all manner of social media distracting us, fragmenting our concentration, and demanding short, rapid communication? In The Edge of the Precipice, Paul Socken brings together a thoughtful group of writers, editors, philosophers, librarians, archivists, and literary critics from Canada, the US, France, England, South Africa, and Australia to contemplate the state of literature in the twenty-first century. Including essays by outstanding contributors such as Alberto Manguel, Mark Kingwell, Lori Saint-Martin, Sven Birkerts, Katia Grubisic, Drew Nelles, and J. Hillis Miller, this collection presents a range of perspectives about the importance of reading literature today. The Edge of the Precipice is a passionate, articulate, and entertaining collection that reflects on the role of literature in our society and asks if it is now under siege. Contributors include Michael Austin (Newman University), Sven Birkerts (author), Stephen Brockmann (Carnegie-Mellon University), Vincent Giroud (University of Franche-Comté), Katia Grubisic (poet), Mark Kingwell (University of Toronto), Alberto Manguel (author), J. Hillis Miller (University of California, Irvine), Drew Nelles (editor-in-chief, Maisonneuve), Keith Oatley (University of Toronto), Ekaterina Rogatchevskaia (British Library), Leonard Rosmarin (Brock University), Lori Saint-Martin (translator, Université du Québec à Montréal), Paul Socken (University of Waterloo), and Gerhard van der Linde (University of South Africa). Can a case be made for reading literature in the digital age? Does literature still matter in this era of instant information? Is it even possible to advocate for serious, sustained reading with all manner of social media distracting us, fragmenting our concentration, and demanding short, rapid communication? In 'The Edge of the Precipice', Paul Socken brings together a thoughtful group of writers, editors, philosophers, librarians, archivists and literary critics from Canada, the US, France, England, South Africa and Australia to contemplate the state of literature in the 21st century Kafka wrote that a book should be an axe to break the frozen sea within us: does that idea resonate with readers today?