| Sumario: | The article examines the resurgence of close reading in American literary studies through four recent academic books, each exploring its history, pedagogy, and significance. John Guillory theorizes close reading as a "cultural technique" that cultivates self-reflexive attention, while Marion Thain and Ewan Jones frame it as a "technology of attention" shaped by literary form. Dan Sinykin and Johanna Winant present close reading as a teachable craft, and Christopher Rovee connects it to the nostalgic undercurrents of New Criticism. Despite their differing perspectives, all authors converge on the idea that close reading functions as a mode of subject-formation, influencing how readers engage with texts and themselves. The article also critiques the limited cultural scope of these discussions, suggesting that the political implications of close reading's global adaptations warrant further exploration.
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