Can printed books save us?
I admit I oftentime rejoice that printing felt out of fashion, so the printed books that are left are saved from the progress of psyops and the invasion of AI, which may make it easier for future generation(s?) to see through the blindfold of fantasies that will be setup for them.
The article site 1984 as an illustration of how printed books can help resist surveillance. Well, it did not turn out that great for the main character of that book.
Books are a sedative not a cure.
That's a great question.
The answer is very well known. It started both.
In fact, China was just fading away from a very similar boom when Europe started expanding. And the Otomans have had their own boom some centuries before.
And China did develop a mechanical press, and decided to control an censor it too. But I don't think the GP is correct on using that as a strong cause.