How do Granger and the others preserve books?

In Fahrenheit 451, Granger and the other professors preserve books by memorizing them. Granger explains that they used to read the books and burn them or put them onto microfilm, but neither of these methods worked very well. Instead, they decided to learn every word.

Each man in the group has memorized a single book or group of books by a single author. Granger, for instance, has memorized Plato's Republic. When Montag joins...

In Fahrenheit 451, Granger and the other professors preserve books by memorizing them. Granger explains that they used to read the books and burn them or put them onto microfilm, but neither of these methods worked very well. Instead, they decided to learn every word.

Each man in the group has memorized a single book or group of books by a single author. Granger, for instance, has memorized Plato's Republic. When Montag joins the group, his contribution is the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes.

By memorizing the books, Granger and his men have successfully preserved the content of lost books—books outlawed by the government and burned by firemen. When it comes time to rebuild society, they will recite their chosen book, transferring its contents to the next generation.