>>The book also raises interesting issues (although declines to answer them, saying they're another book entirely) about the perception that literacy is necessarily a requisite of progressive civilisation, which is the pervasive assumption in the West...>>

I can see where it could be another whole book entirely. The question is so provocative. Just defining what a "progressively civilized person" is would make a a most interesting thesis. I'd settle for a short essay. I'd love to read one right now especially.