From unfinished books to 10-second reels: Is reading becoming lost art?

“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” The words, written by Harper Lee in her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, carry a meaning that feels increasingly urgent today. Perhaps the time has come to fear the loss of something we once took for granted: the ability to lose ourselves in a book.Think of a moment when a close friend's words cut deep, when disappointment left you searching for solace, and the world seemed unwilling to listen. Somewhere on a shelf, a familiar book waited. Sometimes, it was a companion; at others, a teacher. Its pages offered refuge when words failed and perspective when emotions overwhelmed. Books have a way of staying with us, even when people do not.For generations of readers, books were more than a means of acquiring knowledge.