I'm reading an Illich book now, called IN the Vineyard of the Text.
It's not a political commentary or anything like that.  He's delving
into what "reading" meant in the Middle Ages, compared to now.  So
far it's really good.  THe book is devoted to a discussion of the
_Didascalicon_ of Hugh of St. Victor.  It takes you throught the journey
that Hugh made in his book, and describes how it was a breakthrough
kind of book in the 11th century.  What's neat is how Illich describes
the history of certain words.  like,  in talking about the word "symbol":
"The Greek verb symballein means 'to bring or throw or put together.'
It can mean the food which participants bring along for the festive
table.  It is a summary, a tally, or token which only in late antiquity
acquires the meaning of semeion, which is sign.  Significantly, 
symbolon came to mean signum in the writings of the late Greek Fathers,
especially Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite ..."
Vineyard of the Text was written a couple of years ago, and I would 
say it's a sequel to ABC: Alphabetization of the Popular Mind, which
explores the transition from an oral culture to a written one.  While
Vineyard concentrates on the 11th century, ABC spans the whole range of
history.
-michael
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