The protagonist, despite initially enjoying literature, finds himself relying on secretaries to read due to his failing eyesight and his discomfort with eyeglasses. This shift reflects a deepening disengagement from reading, which correlates with a declining interest in the content available to him.
He believes that his diminishing enthusiasm for books stems from external factors, specifically lamenting that there are "fewer and fewer good books." This perspective highlights a larger commentary on the quality of literature and its impact on the reading experience.