Was Silent Reading Unusual During Augustine's Time?

The article discusses the unusual silence in reading during Augustine's time. According to the article, during the 4th century, reading out loud was the norm. However, Augustine, a 4th-century Christian philosopher, wrote that he read silently, which was considered unusual. The article notes that this practice was not widely adopted until the Middle Ages, and even then, it was not a standard practice. The article cites Augustine's writings, specifically his Confessions, where he mentions reading silently. The article also mentions that the concept of silent reading was not fully developed until the 18th century, with the invention of the printing press.