Prologue (shallow) -

Carr uses the prologue to contrast the "linear" thought encouraged by printed books with the "staccato" or fragmented thinking encouraged by the internet.

The Watchdog and the Thief: An Analysis of the Prologue to The Shallows I. Introduction Prologue (Shallow)

The prologue serves as a personal and cultural bridge, describing the "shallow" state of modern reading. Carr uses the prologue to contrast the "linear"

It introduces the biological "rules" Carr will later explore, such as the idea that our brains are constantly adapting to the tools we use. It introduces the biological "rules" Carr will later

As a literary device, this specific prologue fulfills several critical roles:

It sets a foreboding yet analytical tone, characteristic of modern technology criticism.

Carr highlights McLuhan’s argument that we are often so distracted by the content of a medium (the "juicy piece of meat") that we fail to notice how the medium itself (the "burglar") is changing us.