Review: María Angélica Thumala Olave (ed.), ‘The Cultural Sociology of Reading: The Meanings of Reading and Books Across the World’
Review of María Angélica Thumala Olave’s (ed.), ‘The Cultural Sociology of Reading: The Meanings of Reading and Books Across the World’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022) 577 pages
Abstract
This review explores María Angélica Thumala Olave’s The Cultural Sociology of Reading as a profound inquiry into the sociocultural dimensions of reading. By examining diverse case studies from the Global North and South, the book reveals how reading functions as a mirror of identity, a lens for interpreting social norms, and a tool for both resistance and control. Grounded in theoretical frameworks like iconicity and carnal hermeneutics, the volume addresses the material and emotional dimensions of reading while engaging with critical issues such as decolonization and the commodification of cultural practices under capitalism. However, it falls short in addressing the impact of digitalization and the necessity for deeper incorporation of indigenous epistemologies. This review situates the book within broader debates on knowledge production, global inequalities, and the transformative role of reading in shaping human lives and societies.
Reviewed by Muhammad Khairul, Muhammad Syahid, Fajar Alamin and Akhmad Ridlo
The practice of reading is often dismissed as a passive activity, but The Cultural Sociology of Reading, edited by María Angélica Thumala Olave, challenges this assumption by demonstrating how reading actively shapes individuals and societies. This volume situates reading at the intersection of emotional, social, and political realms, emphasizing its transformative potential as both a "mirror" of identity and a "lens" for interpreting social norms. As Rita Felski (2008) has argued, reading is a form of aesthetic interaction that influences identity formation and worldviews, reflecting broader sociocultural dynamics. Thumala Olave, a political scientist and cultural sociologist at the University of Edinburgh, not only serves as the editor but also contributes as an author to several of the book's 19 chapters, ensuring a cohesive theoretical foundation for the collection.
The book is organized into thematic sections that explore reading as a sociocultural practice. It draws on diverse case studies from England, the United States, Australia, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Chile, Iran, China, and East Africa, with particular attention to Swahili readers along the Indian Ocean Coast. These global perspectives highlight reading as both a personal act of self-reflection and a collective cultural phenomenon. For instance, the experiences of female readers in the UK, who are shown to engage deeply with fiction for emotional care and self-reflection, illustrate how reading transcends intellectual activity to encompass meaningful emotional dimensions (p. 20).
A key conceptual framework in the book is iconicity, a term developed by Jeffrey Alexander (2012) and expanded by Dominik Bartmanski (2016), which examines how books serve as both material and symbolic objects. Iconicity highlights the dual nature of books: they are cherished not only for their content but also for their physicality and the sensory experiences they provide. For example, Jan Váňa’s contribution in Chapter 5 discusses how iconicity connects the text to the reader’s interpretation, transcending literal meaning to create enduring symbolic associations. This perspective underscores the cultural power of books as status symbols and agents of social meaning.
However, the book also reveals significant disparities in reading practices shaped by socioeconomic status. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s (1984) Distinction, the volume demonstrates how cultural capital influences reading habits, with lower social classes often prioritizing practical and economic needs over reflective or philosophical reading. This analysis is complemented by Bennett et al.’s (2010) findings that literary tastes are strongly mediated by class, illustrating how reading remains a deeply stratified activity.
The materiality of reading emerges as a recurring theme, particularly in relation to the sensory engagement between readers and texts. The chapter on Anaïs Nin’s literary erotics explores how physical interactions—such as holding and turning pages—deepen emotional attachment and enhance interpretive understanding. This aligns with the concept of carnal hermeneutics (Kearney, 2015), which emphasizes the role of touch, smell, and other “lower” senses in shaping readers’ experiences. Similarly, the chapter on zines in Australia, often produced with a DIY ethos, highlights their role as countercultural artifacts that resist dominant norms while fostering participatory politics (Watson & Bennett, 2021). Zines are a testament to the creative possibilities of physical media, blending diverse topics and formats to challenge established hierarchies.
At the same time, the book acknowledges the geopolitical dimensions of reading practices, particularly through its engagement with the Global South. Efforts to decolonize knowledge are evident in the inclusion of non-Western reading cultures, such as Swahili booklets, which challenge Eurocentric narratives of literacy and intellectual history. However, this decolonial ambition is limited by the book’s reliance on Western theoretical paradigms. As Chakrabarty (2000) and Mignolo (2011) argue, decolonization requires centering local epistemologies and frameworks rather than adapting Western theories to non-Western contexts. The book’s gesture toward epistemic disobedience is commendable but could be expanded further.
A notable gap in the volume is its treatment of digital reading practices. While it excels in analyzing the materiality of print media, the transformative impact of digital technologies on reading remains underexplored. Scholars like Nicholas Carr (The Shallows, 2010) and Shoshana Zuboff (The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 2019) have shown how digitalization commodifies reading and reshapes cultural hierarchies. Algorithms influence what we read and how we interpret it, often privileging market-driven choices over reflective engagement. These dynamics are particularly relevant in the context of capitalism, where digital platforms increasingly replace traditional spaces like libraries and bookstores (Thompson, 2012).
Ultimately, The Cultural Sociology of Reading invites readers to reconsider the stakes of reading in a world marked by global inequalities and technological change. Its exploration of reading as a site of identity formation, resistance, and cultural production is both timely and compelling. However, to fully realize its potential, the book must engage more deeply with the challenges posed by digitalization and the necessity of decolonial epistemologies. Despite these limitations, this anthology stands as a significant contribution to cultural sociology, offering valuable insights into the enduring power of reading to shape human lives and societies.
References
Alexander, J. (2012). Iconic experience in art and life: Surface/depth. Theory, Culture & Society, 25(5), 1–19.
Bartmanski, D. (2016). Iconic Power: Materiality and Meaning in Social Life. New York: Routledge.
Bennett, T., Savage, M., Silva, E. B., Warde, A., Gayo-Cal, M., & Wright, D. (2010). Culture, Class, Distinction. London: Routledge.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Carr, N. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. New York: W. W. Norton.
Chakrabarty, D. (2000). Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Felski, R. (2008). Uses of Literature. Oxford: Blackwell.
Kearney, R. (2015). Carnal Hermeneutics. New York: Fordham University Press.
Mignolo, W. D. (2011). The Darker Side of Western Modernity: Global Futures, Decolonial Options.
Watson, A., & Bennett, A. (2021). DIY Cultures and Zines: Creativity and Resistance in Everyday Life. London: Routledge.
Zuboff, S. (2019). The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power. New York: PublicAffairs.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Lembaga Pengelolaan Dana Pendidikan (LPDP/Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in Indonesia for supporting this publication.
Muhammad Khairul is a researcher and academic specializing in urban studies, environmental change, and science education at Indonesia University of Education in Bandung, Indonesia. His work significantly contributes to understanding the dynamics of geography education, urban and environmental transitions, land governance changes, and religious aspects
Email: m.khairul311089@upi.edu
Muhammad Syahid , Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia
muhammad.syahid-2022@feb.unair.ac.id
Fajar Alamin, Department of Arabic Language education
Indonesia University of Education, Bandung, Indonesia
Akhmad Ridlo, Department of Arabic Language education
Indonesia University of Education, Bandung, Indonesia
