The Need to Read
wsj.com
The Need to Read
1–10 of 108 posts
Re: The Need to Read
#2The part about self help books is absolutely true-- I find much more useful "advice" and guidance from narrative nonfiction (e.g. memoirs, biographies, etc.) and great fiction than I ever did with conventional "motivation" books.
Re: The Need to Read
#3While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment, I suspect and sincerely hope this is a plea to the future president to take time away from consulting his big, best brain that knows much more than generals and has the best ideas to read things and educate himself for the good of the world.
Unfortunately for the WSJ and the rest of the world he'll never read it.
Re: The Need to Read
#4I agree with the gist of this article, but it feels like the details are trying too hard. Books are great, and do add value to your life and help you educate yourself. But the improvements they make in your life are not automatic - you need to actively engage with the content. Neither are they unique - if you engage with meaningful content, of any kind, you can learn and improve yourself.
Books are wonderful. But they are not magic. Nevertheless, I do fully agree with the larger point that people should keep reading them.
Re: The Need to Read
#5I agree with the gist of this article, but it feels like the details are trying too hard. Books are great, and do add value to your life and help you educate yourself. But the improvements they make in your life are not automatic - you need to actively engage with the content. Neither are they unique - if you engage with meaningful content, of any kind, you can learn and improve yourself. Books are wonderful. But the…
Considering that some people read zero books a year, the simple act of reading a book would be a huge improvement in ongoing literacy and attention span for some people.
Re: The Need to Read
#6Is there a way around the paywall? I clicked "web" and then entered through google, but it's still paywalled.
Re: The Need to Read
#7I agree with the gist of this article, but it feels like the details are trying too hard. Books are great, and do add value to your life and help you educate yourself. But the improvements they make in your life are not automatic - you need to actively engage with the content. Neither are they unique - if you engage with meaningful content, of any kind, you can learn and improve yourself. Books are wonderful. But the…
Considering that some people read zero books a year, the simple act of reading a book would be a huge improvement in ongoing literacy and attention span for some people.
I think if books were more useful, people would have a better attention span for them. Reading a book won't automatically improve your life. Usually it's just another form of time-wasting.
Re: The Need to Read
#8I agree with the gist of this article, but it feels like the details are trying too hard. Books are great, and do add value to your life and help you educate yourself. But the improvements they make in your life are not automatic - you need to actively engage with the content. Neither are they unique - if you engage with meaningful content, of any kind, you can learn and improve yourself. Books are wonderful. But the…
> Neither are they unique - if you engage with meaningful content, of any kind, you can learn and improve yourself.
Youtube has been godsend for me last couple of years. It exposed my own ignorance about how little I knew about the world.
Now I usually type in 'BBC documentary' into youtube every night and watch it in bed. Also helps me get rid of some of the self-centered pre-bed anxiety.
Re: The Need to Read
#9Is there a way around the paywall? I clicked "web" and then entered through google, but it's still paywalled.
Incognito mode plus Google search on article title does the trick.
Re: The Need to Read
#10I am usually reading 3-5 books at a time but I only read computer/math books now a days.
I wonder if the benefits that the author and other people mention apply to technical books. Maybe I should pick up a fiction book or finally start reading "Gödel, Escher, Bach" again (which has been sitting on my shelf for too long).