In his recent article for World Literature Today, Adam Morgan takes a closer look at the quiet decline of literary criticism in the United States. Over the past two decades, many newspapers and magazines have drastically reduced or even eliminated book review sections, leaving fewer places for thoughtful literary discussion.
Today, only about seven full-time book critics remain in the U.S., according to Morgan. Most reviews are now written by freelancers—many working for little or no pay. This shift has real consequences: fewer opportunities for authors to be read and recognized, and fewer spaces where readers can discover new voices or engage deeply with literature.
But Morgan argues that criticism is more than a response to books—it’s a creative, valuable form of writing in its own right. It can open up new ways of thinking, connect communities, and preserve the cultural importance of literature in a fast-moving world.
Read the full article in World Literature Today