Sam Kahn, co‑founder of The Republic of Letters, recounts a lifelong struggle to keep books in front of him amid modern distractions. He names Substack as a practical channel for readers to access his work, offering an annual or founding plan subscription and a direct purchase option on his website. The article points out that the shift from print to digital has *not* eliminated the value of physical books, as evidenced by Kahn’s dendritic library that moved from bedside tables to apartment rooms.

Kahn lists several “adversaries” to reading: the social stigma of middle school, a demanding high‑school curriculum, the isolation of college life, the grind of early career jobs, and the emotional weight of romantic relationships. He notes that a period of twelve‑hour workdays did not silence his reading appetite; instead, a trip to a local used bookstore stocked him with Penguin Classics.

The writer emphasizes that modern platforms can *support* reading rather than replace it. Substack’s subscription model offers a low‑friction way for readers to engage with essays, while the continued distribution of physical copies signals that print remains a viable medium.

The piece concludes that reclaiming reading requires both digital access points and a willingness to re‑integrate books into daily routines.