We’ve reached that familiar point in the year—the “I can’t believe it’s over already” moment. These days arrive every 365 days, yet somehow each cycle feels shorter than the one before. It’s as if every year quietly subtracts a day from the total. If that were true, then my 55 years on earth would make this year feel like about 310 days instead of 365 (give or take a leap day or two—but I’m not about to do all that math).
I’ve written before about how time seems to accelerate, so that’s not my focus today. Instead, I want to reflect on how, even as the world changes at a dizzying pace, some things remain remarkably constant.
Yes, time feels shorter.
Yes, technology has reshaped nearly every corner of our lives.
But no matter how it feels, there are still 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year (give or take—you know, that whole leap year thing again). The sun still rises each morning—even behind clouds—and sets each night.
And one more thing that has changed, yet somehow hasn’t: reading.
Despite the explosion of social media, the decline of the traditional newspaper, and the disappearance of those massive encyclopedia sets (RIP, Britannica print edition, circa 2012), reading itself has not vanished. In fact, technology has arguably made it more accessible than ever: e-books at our fingertips, news alerts sent directly to our phones, digital magazines just a tap away. Even social media sneaks its way into the category.
I’ve even had students ask if reading captions on YouTube videos or TikTok shorts can count toward their monthly reading requirement. And while part of me wants to applaud the creativity, the answer is—without hesitation—no.
Still, despite this increased accessibility, reading for pleasure has dropped dramatically. Estimates show a decline of over 40% since 1992. And we can’t blame this entirely on technology. That downward slide began long before smartphones dominated our lives.
COVID-19 certainly dealt another blow—no argument there. The global shutdown undeniably affected learning, including reading abilities. But again, the drop didn’t start in 2020. The trend was already in motion.
And if I’m being honest, another culprit is simply time. I often find that the minutes I want to spend reading get swallowed up by everything else competing for attention. As the years feel shorter, so do the moments available for reading purely for pleasure.
There was even a time when people believed public libraries were becoming obsolete. Thankfully, many library systems have made an impressive comeback, primarily by adapting—offering dynamic programs, interactive spaces, and community-focused services that draw in children and families.
Yet, despite all the initiatives and innovations, the numbers tell a disappointing truth: reading has been losing ground for decades.
And still—words persist.
Before the internet, we turned to television, newspapers, magazines, and books.
Before television, there were radio, print media, and books
Before radio, there were print media and books.
Across centuries, through every technological wave, words on a page have endured. They’ve carried stories, preserved history, sparked imaginations, and shaped lives. Even now—even as time feels like it’s sprinting past us—the written word remains a constant.
A steady thread in a world that won’t stop changing.