31–40 of 108 posts
Essentially by reading the same book the grandma and grandson had something to talk about. Obviously. Books aren't essential for this and there are any number of things that could have created the same effect. (She could take up playing and understanding, say, video games as only one example.). [2]
[1] http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
[2] I talk with my daughters about "The Bachelor" which I watch with my wife.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
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Sorry but to me this sounds like "Suits are back!" [1] Essentially by reading the same book the grandma and grandson had something to talk about. Obviously. Books aren't essential for this and there are any number of things that could have created the same effect. (She could take up playing and understanding, say, video games as only one example.). [2] [1] http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html [2] I talk with my d…
I don't read entire non-fiction books anymore but just search for it's summaries or notes. Most non-fiction books revolve around a few central ideas. Once you internalize this you realize it isn't necessary to read the entire book. You just need to read the summary and notes that someone else has written. For eg : I'm currently going through the book notes that Derek Sivers has written and just posted this last night…
How can you tell that without reading the book? The benefit of actually reading the thing is getting to synthesize the text and form your own ideas about what it all means.
Your method isn't unacceptable, but to use it as your main source of getting information from books is a bit...odd.
1) There is a very strong relationship between the length of time it takes to compose something and its 'value'. [0] That shouldn't be a surprise. Twitter is on one end of that spectrum, books are on the other.
2) The range of value is far wider than people can conceive of. I know this fact yet in my tiny human mind I can't conceive of the entire breadth of that spectrum, and I inevitably lose perspective and get wrapped up in my what I'm currently reading.
3) The highest value content , addressing the same topic as lower value content, has entirely different things to say, different questions to ask, different (i.e., real) knowledge. When I read it (I tend to forget otherwise; see #2), I am reminded that the lower value content - and I mean 99% of what's out there - is bad information; it either addresses the wrong questions, is based on the wrong knowledge, or is flat out ignorant and/or deceitful.
EDIT: 3.5) High value content is far more efficient and rewarding: One good high-value book saves you far more time sifting through 99% of the rest. Also, the pleasure and reward of interacting with humanities geniuses through their words far exceeds that of reading hyperbolic tweets by the 99.9999% who have far less talent and knowledge (not excluding myself). Finally, you absorb some of the habits of what you read; read the best and you absorb the best - great writing, high standards, clear thinking, etc.
4) There exists is far more of the highest value content than I have time to read in my life.
So why read anything else?
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[0] Value: For lack of a better term, I'll use value: It can include anything from directly applicable information to deep knowledge to artistic beauty.
I don't read entire non-fiction books anymore but just search for it's summaries or notes. Most non-fiction books revolve around a few central ideas. Once you internalize this you realize it isn't necessary to read the entire book. You just need to read the summary and notes that someone else has written. For eg : I'm currently going through the book notes that Derek Sivers has written and just posted this last night…
I don't read entire non-fiction books anymore but just search for it's summaries or notes. Most non-fiction books revolve around a few central ideas. Once you internalize this you realize it isn't necessary to read the entire book. You just need to read the summary and notes that someone else has written. For eg : I'm currently going through the book notes that Derek Sivers has written and just posted this last night…
The 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.
Self-help books is philosophy for the feeble minded.
Oh the horror of someone trying to better themselves with a 0 side-effect $10 book that in some instances can be more effective than antidepressants.
https://aeon.co/essays/can-self-help-books-be-better-than-me...