Ultimately I believe what books help is to create a shared perspective of the world. If everyone has read a book, you can quote a passage and everyone gets what

Ultimately I believe what books help is to create a shared perspective of the world. If everyone has read a book, you can quote a passage and everyone gets what you’re trying to communicate. You may use it in clever ways in your daily interactions. In premodern times, books literally shaped language by introducing new words, terms and phrases. Today, the closest thing I can think of is popular TV shows and movies; but also, video games, social media etc. What was once the exclusive domain of books is now accessible via other media. Of course the book people are mad at this but I agree with you that it’s kinda antiquated to lament that books have lost that place in society.