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Meta is using pirated books to train AI — including those by N.L. authors

Trudy Morgan-Cole says she found her seven most recent publications in a database published by The Atlantic that containing books used by Meta to train its artificial intelligence model.

The End of the Age of the Book?

Are we witnessing the end of the age of the book?​

That’s the provocative conclusion of Sam Kahn, editor of Persuasion and author of the Substack Castalia. In a recent essay, he contends that while reading persists, it has become increasingly fragmented, digital and visual.​

It’s no secret: Many students resist reading whole books. Professors, in response, assign fewer. And the consequences ripple outward.​

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As students turn to summaries, short videos or AI-generated explanations, something is lost. Classroom discussion thins. Engagement wanes. The university risks becoming a place where ideas are skimmed rather than truly absorbed.​

Kahn is not alone in lamenting this shift. I share his concern. After all, books—especially complex works of fiction and nonfiction—perform a unique cognitive and cultural function. They slow us down, draw us into alternative worlds, philosophical dilemmas and layered arguments. They cultivate habits of sustained attention, reflection and imagination that scrolling and swiping can’t replicate.​

The decline of the book carries implications that extend far beyond the classroom. They touch the very structure of thought, memory and consciousness itself. The book is not, and never was, a neutral medium.​

However, if the book is receding from the center of intellectual life, the question is not only what we stand to lose, but what will take its place.

The Publishing Industry’s Failure to Adapt to Shifting Realities

Kahn argues that the traditional book format is increasingly misaligned with the demands of the digital era. He observes that many contemporary works, both fiction and nonfiction, often feel like ideas unnaturally stretched to meet conventional book lengths.

Kahn criticizes the publishing industry’s adherence to this outdated format, suggesting that shorter forms like articles, essays and novellas may better suit today’s readers, who favor quick, fragmented engagement typical of online interactions.​

He also reflects on the structural constraints of traditional books, particularly in genres like biography and history, where a linear narrative may not best serve the subject matter. Kahn proposes alternative structures, such as the “archipelago” model, his metaphor for decentralized, interconnected cultural and intellectual approach that could allow for more flexible and engaging storytelling, better aligned with the fragmented yet interconnected nature of digital media.

This approach would enable writers to present multiple facets of a subject without adhering to a strict chronological order.​

However, Kahn also expresses concern about the cultural and historical implications of moving away from books as stable repositories of knowledge and wisdom. He suggests that while the medium may evolve, it is crucial to find ways to preserve and transmit the depth and richness of human thought that books have traditionally embodied.

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Kahn urges writers, publishers and readers to reconsider the role of books in the digital age and to explore new forms and structures that can carry forward the intellectual and cultural functions that books historically fulfilled.

My Own Experiment

I’ve authored and edited 16 books, with another—The American Child: The Transformation of Childhood Since World War II, co-authored with Peter N. Stearns—due out this fall.

However, I’ve come to realize that books aren’t the only or necessarily the most effective, way to reach readers.

To complement traditional publishing, I’ve launched a free, open-access Substack forum called Luminare: Reflections on History, the Arts and the Enduring Questions of Human Existence.

The term “luminare” is an old, poetic word meaning a source of light—not just physically, but spiritually and intellectually. It’s a guiding flame that illuminates difficult truths and helps others see more clearly.

I envision this forum as a space to grapple with the questions that haunt us: meaning, love, mortality, justice, beauty, the emotional and ethical dimensions of our lives, the cultural inheritance we carry and the price of modernity.

And always, the deeper question: What does it mean to live—and to teach—thoughtfully, purposefully and humanely?

I invite you to join this conversation. Please feel free to subscribe.

The Book as a Medium of Consciousness

For two millennia, books have been central to knowledge transmission and cognitive development. Scholars like Walter Ong and Maryanne Wolf argue that print culture has fundamentally reshaped human cognition, fostering linear reasoning, abstract thought and complex syntax.

The novel, in particular, is credited with enhancing empathy and moral imagination by allowing readers to experience diverse perspectives. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum emphasizes that literature cultivates the “narrative imagination”—the ability to understand individuals different from ourselves.​

Marshall McLuhan’s assertion that “the medium is the message” suggests that the printing press did more than disseminate ideas; it structured thought processes. Books trained minds to think sequentially, follow extended arguments and engage in silent dialogue with authors, shaping a modern self characterized by introspection and moral reflection.​

Neil Postman, in Amusing Ourselves to Death, warned that the shift from print to image-based media like television would erode rational discourse, prioritizing entertainment over substantive argument. This trend has intensified with the rise of social media and algorithm-driven content, which favor brevity and emotional appeal over depth and deliberation.​

Postman contended that the typographic culture of the Enlightenment fostered public discourse grounded in reason, with books serving as training grounds for democratic citizenship.

Similarly, Sven Birkerts, in The Gutenberg Elegies, argued that immersive reading deepens knowledge and character, teaching patience, embracing ambiguity and engaging with complexity. Maryanne Wolf, in Proust and the Squid and Reader, Come Home, provides neuroscientific evidence that reading literary fiction activates high-level brain functions, including empathy, inference, reflection and critical thinking. ​

These scholars suggest that reading books—especially novels and comprehensive nonfiction—cultivates mental habits essential for personal growth and civic engagement.

The Decline of Long-Form Reading

Evidence of a decline in book reading is mounting. Surveys from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pew Research Center show a steady decline in literary reading, especially among young adults. Instructors report that students struggle to finish assigned readings, even relatively short ones. The result is not only a loss of literary knowledge, but a loss of the cognitive scaffolding that books provide.

Books offer an immersive, sustained engagement with ideas. They foster the ability to follow an argument, weigh evidence and interpret nuance. Fiction nurtures empathy by placing readers inside other minds. Nonfiction develops the ability to grapple with competing claims and long-range thinking. When books disappear from classrooms, those habits diminish.

And yet, the decline of the book need not be framed entirely as a loss.

After the Book: What Comes Next?

What if the age of the book is not ending, but evolving? What if serious engagement is migrating—not vanishing—into new forms?

Interactive essays, long-form newsletters, podcasts, digital storytelling, AI-assisted research and multimedia formats are all expanding our options for immersive engagement. These aren’t mere distractions. At their best, they cultivate new forms of attention: more sensory, dialogic and relational.

Platforms like Substack have enabled writers to build engaged communities of readers. Podcasts, when well crafted, invite reflective listening and narrative immersion that rivals the best essays. Hybrid media—combining image, text, sound and hyperlink—offer pathways to knowledge that can be both rigorous and accessible.

These formats also expand access. Print culture historically privileged certain classes, languages and literacies. Digital media, for all their downsides, have opened up space for previously marginalized voices and storytelling traditions. Audio, video and visual formats can reach those who struggle with traditional literacy—and can engage the senses in ways print never could.

This doesn’t mean that books are obsolete. As Maryanne Wolf reminds us, deep reading fosters mental circuitry that no other medium fully replicates. But we might think of the post-book world not as an erasure, but as an expansion: a remixing of cognitive possibilities.

The challenge is to ensure that the best of book culture—its depth, nuance and ethical seriousness—survives and adapts. That might mean designing curricula that pair long-form texts with interactive discussion or developing digital formats that reward slow engagement rather than instant reaction.

The Next Chapter

If the printed book helped shape a certain kind of self—reflective, analytical, morally attuned—then its decline raises urgent questions about what kinds of selves we are now becoming. Yet this need not be a story of cultural loss. The waning of the book as our dominant medium does not signal the end of serious thought, deep reading or transformative writing. It marks a transition—one filled with both challenge and possibility.

Colleges and universities have a vital role to play in meeting this moment. In an era when AI threatens to make writing optional and attention spans are increasingly fragmented, we must reaffirm writing not as a task to be completed, but as a powerful mode of thinking, discovery and human connection.

We can begin by reimagining reading as an active, interpretive practice. That means building curricula around fewer but more substantial texts—books that demand time, patience and thought. It means encouraging students to slow down, reread, question structure, unpack arguments and consider ideas from multiple disciplinary angles—historical, philosophical, literary and scientific.

Faculty should model what deep reading looks like: how language works, how claims are made, how meaning unfolds. We should ask students not simply to summarize, but to paraphrase, reframe and respond. Tools like annotation—digital or analog—can help cultivate more engaged, reflective readers.

Equally important is our approach to writing. Writing should not be treated as mere output, but as a mode of inquiry—recursive, messy and generative. Writing centers should become hubs of intellectual development, not just sites for proofreading. Exploratory writing—journals, reflections, quick in-class prompts—can help students discover what they think and how their thinking evolves.

We should also embrace new forms without abandoning the old. Thoughtful assignments might blend traditional essays with multimodal forms—podcasts, blogs, video essays, zines—while still asking students to reason clearly and argue persuasively. Rhetorical agility—the ability to adapt voice, tone and argument to different audiences and platforms—is a 21st-century skill we must nurture.

And we must confront AI not with fear, but with creativity. Assignments should be personal, context-rich and specific—difficult to fake and deeply rewarding to write. Students should be asked to explain their process, defend their interpretive choices and even compare their work to AI-generated responses. In doing so, they learn not just how to write, but how to reflect—on meaning, authorship and originality.

In short, we must treat reading not as passive absorption, but as active engagement. We must restore writing as a vehicle of insight, not just a means of evaluation. And we must equip students to navigate a world saturated with information—but hungry for meaning.

Higher education must make the case—by word and deed—that writing is not merely a skill to be mastered, but a way of becoming more fully human. The decline of the book may be real. But so too is the opportunity to carry forward its deepest gifts: attentiveness, imagination, moral complexity and the quiet discipline of thought.

​The book’s central place may be fading—but its legacy can still shape the future. In this pivotal moment, we must cultivate students who can grapple with complex ideas and articulate their insights with clarity, coherence and conviction. As we embark on this new chapter in human expression, we need to equip our students with the essential tools to author the future.

Steven Mintz is professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, recipient of the AAC&U’s 2025 President’s Award and author of Substack’s Luminare: Reflections on History, the Arts and the Enduring Questions of Human Existence.

7 Life-changing books Tim Cook suggests everyone should read

Read Full GalleryExplore 7 life-changing books recommended by Tim Cook that inspire personal growth, leadership, and success. Discover his top picks for profound insights and motivation.  Published: Apr 7, 2025, 2:01 PM IST Tim Cook, the visionary CEO of Apple, is not only known for his leadership and innovation but also for his love of reading. He often draws inspiration from books that shape his perspective on life, leadership, and resilience. Here are seven books personally recommended by Tim Cook that offer profound insights into perseverance, ethical leadership, and personal growth.
1. Shoe Dog by Phil KnightThis memoir by Nike’s co-founder delves into the struggles and triumphs of building a global brand. Cook admires its depiction of resilience and bold decision-making. It’s a must-read for understanding the entrepreneurial spirit.

ALSO READ: 7 game-changing books to boost productivity
2. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul KalanithiA moving memoir of a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer, this book explores mortality and purpose. Cook praises its emotional depth and the way it redefines success and fulfillment.
3. Bobby Kennedy by Larry TyeThis biography paints a compelling portrait of Robert F. Kennedy’s transformation into a champion of social justice. Cook values its lessons on integrity, empathy, and leadership.
4. Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt 5. March by John LewisA graphic memoir by civil rights leader John Lewis, this book chronicles his fight for equality. Cook admires its powerful message of courage and activism.
6. Gandhi: An AutobiographyThis autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi details his journey of self-discovery and nonviolent resistance. Cook finds inspiration in Gandhi’s philosophy and unwavering commitment to truth.

7. Competing Against Time by George Stalk Jr.A business classic that emphasizes the importance of time-based competition. Cook recommends it for its strategic insights and practical applications in the corporate world.
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Christian life and literature: eight books

History
The Monastic World
Andrew JotischkyYale University Press, 432 pages
We no longer live in a world where one regularly runs across monks and nuns, so dipping into Andrew Jotischky’s 1,200-year history of Christian monas­ticism feels like a trip to a foreign country. Jotischky begins the story with Christians in the early centuries divesting themselves of property in the pursuit of a holier form of living and finishes with the changes brought on by the Protestant Reformation. The book isn’t necessarily a page-turner, but it contains plenty of insights that will challenge typical preconceptions about monastic life. For example, monasticism in the Middle Ages was motivated by popular lay piety, and the thousands of monks and nuns who took vows of poverty were primarily drawn from the landed families of Europe, not the poor. Christians believed a monastic community had the power to effect penance on behalf of others, so sending both funds and family members to monasteries made sense for those who could afford it. Most Protestant readers won’t agree with monastic piety, but this book helps explain why the practice dominated the Christian tradition for so long. —Collin Garbarino

Literary Criticism
The Last Romantic
Jeffrey W. BarbeauIVP Academic, 176 pages
This book began as a series of lectures at Wheaton College in 2023 about the influence of English Romanticism on C.S. Lewis’ imagination and theology. Barbeau argues that Lewis’ claims not to be a theologian are too self-effacing and that the marginalia in Lewis’ books reveal an engagement with Romantic thinkers and modern theology. In three chapters, each followed by a brief response by another scholar, Barbeau shows Lewis’ method of moving from personal experience to objective reality, his appreciation of the power of feelings and narrative, and his love of God’s book of nature. Readers are also treated to a previously unpublished poem by Lewis found written in the back of a book of Wordsworth’s poetry. English Romanticism—especially that of the later Romantics such as Percy Shelley—has earned its negative reputation for subjectivizing aesthetics and reducing the self to sexual urges. Barbeau shows through an examination of Lewis’ notes and published works that even Romanticism can be redeemed. —Jeremy Larson
Read WORLD’s full review of this book here.

Christian Romance
Welcome to the Honey B&B
Melody CarlsonBaker Publishing Group, 304 pages
This novel might be billed as contemporary romance, but I would describe it as a charming generational story. The protagonist Jewel moves from California to her childhood home in Oregon with her surly teenager. She hopes to convert her parents’ farmhouse into a bed-and-breakfast, but her parents, Honey and C.T., are dealing with their own issues. C.T. has dementia, and Honey spends her days trying to keep up with him. He has a habit of wandering off or causing some sort of mischief. The story moves from slapstick comedy featuring C.T.’s antics to Honey’s wistful musings—and sometimes frank frustration—at their upended retirement plans. Jewel might experience a blooming romance, but the true love is shown in the “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health” relationship between Honey and C.T. In her author’s note, Melody Carlson reveals that her own husband suffers from dementia. This personal connection adds poignant authenticity to the story as much of it mirrors her own life. —Sandy Barwick

Apologetics
Happy Lies
Melissa DoughertyZondervan, 272 pages
This book offers a clear-eyed crash course in New Thought, an insidious version of recycled gnosticism lurking behind much of America’s shiny-happy “TikTok theology.” With surgical precision, Dougherty peels back the historical and philosophical layers to expose how New Thought masquerades behind Christian terms to lure unsuspecting pilgrims from the Way. Dougherty doesn’t pull any punches or sugarcoat her message. She unapologetically confronts readers with the stumbling block of a historical Jesus who presents Himself as the only way to God. But she doesn’t shout from a moralistic high horse, either. Dougherty speaks from her own experience moving from New Thought into Biblical Christianity and steers clear of rhetorical straw men—quoting straight from her own interviews with New Thought reverends and speakers. Although some readers may roll their eyes at Dougherty’s punny sense of humor and frequent Disney references, the author’s conversational style keeps the book from feeling heavy. It’s an ideal read for teens navigating our choose-your-own-adventure cultural moment or adults seeking a readable explanation of America’s gospel of self. —Grace Snell

Ethics
The Moral Circle
Jeff SeboW.W. Norton, 192 pages
Only a philosopher could claim seriously that humans owe significant duties to microbes. But that is precisely NYU bioethicist Jeff Sebo’s thesis in his new book. Sebo claims that the “moral circle” is divided into two categories: First, “moral agents”—us—who owe duties to others. Virtually everything else—including AI programs he ludicrously labels “silicon-based beings”—are “moral patients” to which duties are owed because “they have the capacity to be benefited or harmed.” Since human actions result in tremendous suffering to “billions, trillions, quadrillions, quintillions, or even sextillions of morally ­significant [present and future] beings,” Sebo argues, we “might have a duty to live primarily in service to others”—meaning virtually everything beyond ourselves. Sebo’s overarching purpose is the destruction of human exceptionalism, which he believes will result in a more benign world. But that’s very wrong. Human unexceptionalism is a prescription for more suffering, not less, because it would mark the end of our moral agency. Once we self-identify as merely another animal, that is precisely how we will act. —Wesley J. Smith
Read WORLD’s full review of this book here.

Christian Science Fiction
Above the Circle of Earth
E. Stephen BurnettEnclave Publishing, 416 pages
In 2125, on an Earth devastated by religious wars, a humanist one-world government confines faith to religious preserves. Brock Rivers grows up in a Christian preserve, but youthful (and illegal) attempts to evangelize outside its walls lead to exile on Mars with his wife and children. After years in the Martian desert without the protection—or restrictions—of Christian community, a call from home offers hope of revitalizing missions on Earth. The couple must convince apathetic, fearful Christians to fulfill the Great Commission, even in the face of hostile governments and mysterious enemies. They can become real missionaries in space, but only if they survive explosions and elder boards. This novel might feel like a cross between a Star Trek adventure and a missionary biography, but it works. The struggles of mission work and interdenominational disputes take on new intensity in this dystopian setting, while jovial prose focuses the reader on family and gospel truth. The novel imagines a bright future where faithfulness means powering up spaceships and stepping through quantum vaults to reach the nations, even to the uttermost parts of the galaxy. —L.G. McCary

Church History
Stockholm Syndrome Christianity
John G. WestDiscovery Institute, 358 pages
Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response in which victims develop feelings of loyalty or sympathy toward their captors as a means of surviving a threatening situation. This bond can make it challenging for them to escape even the most harmful circumstances. The attachment isn’t born of sound reasoning but of deeply flawed thinking, emerging from overwhelming fear and a desperate need for safety. John G. West’s new book uses this idea to explain a troubling trend among some Christian leaders. Instead of holding tightly to their faith, West argues, many leaders are adopting the values of the wider culture. This shift isn’t about being more open-minded; it’s more like falling into a trap where fear of criticism or loss of status leads to compromising core values. West’s analysis reveals that this trend resembles a kind of madness—a loss of genuine identity and conviction as believers adopt the views of their “captors.” The book urges Christians to recognize this trap and return to a more authentic, brave practice of their faith. —John Mac Ghlionn
Read WORLD’s full review of this book here.

Christian Fantasy
Darkfell
Amanda WrightQuill & Flame, 402 pages
In this novel, Amanda Wright employs some of the fantasy genre’s most beloved tropes in an entirely new and refreshing way. When Thom Darkfell is drafted into a failing army, he’s convinced death is only one battle away. Through unexpected circumstances, the mild Thom is forced to take on unexpected powers that allow him to step between realms. With the help of his best friend and the daughter of a star, Thom must quickly learn to use his powers to seal the barrier to the dark realm before his country falls into enemy hands. Darkfell uses the familiar fantasy concept of interdimensional travel, layering it with the Scriptural language of realms (think of our earthly realm, Sheol, and Paul’s “third heaven”). The world-building is deeply Biblical with heavy reliance on the Creator El’Ohim to provide and guide. Wright’s story examines themes of courage, found family, and spiritual warfare. —Marian Jacobs