The author of "The Color of the Wild" describes book progress as retrogression to convey the idea that the advancement of technology and digital communication has resulted in a decline in the reading culture and appreciation for physical books. The author likely believes that the widespread use of screens and the ease of accessing information online has made people less inclined to read books and engage in deep, focused reading. The term "retrogression" suggests a regression or backward movement, implying that society is moving away from the intellectual and emotional benefits that can be derived from reading physical books.
