Towards the end of the interview, Roberto Alifano asks Borges’ opinion on the comment that modern developments in communications will replace books with something more dynamic than reading. In reply, Borges asserts that books will never disappear and it is impossible to replace books. He justifies his opinion saying that ‘book’ is the most astounding invention of man. Whereas the telephone can be considered as an extension of our voice, the television and microscope as extensions of our sight, and the sword and the plough as extensions of our arm, only the book is an extension of our imagination and memory and nothing can replace books.
Books preserve the great memory of all centuries and their function is irreplaceable. Naturally, if books disappear, history would disappear and man would also surely disappear. He says that books always retain something sacred, mortal and magical which brings happiness.
