Unlocking the power of reading: Navigating knowledge in the age of distraction
Dive into the profound musings of a dedicated reader who grapples with the essence of reading in a world of distractions and information overload. In this introspective journey, the author delves into the quest for meaningful knowledge retention amidst the vast sea of literature. Drawing insights from Joshua Foer's exploration of memory in "Moonwalking with Einstein," the article reflects on humanity's evolving relationship with books, from memorisation to extensive consumption. Amidst reflections on the purpose of reading and the transformative power of ideas, it prompts readers to ponder their engagement with literature and its impact on their identities and perspectives. The article was first published on FirstRand Perspectives.
Who do we read
By Kibo Ngowi
I love reading. Immersing myself in a paperback and temporarily blocking out the outside world is one of my most enjoyable activities. Still, there's one problem: I often agonise over whether I'm getting the most out of my reading.
I typically don't read fiction, not because I think fiction is trivial but because I've long been drawn to books that discuss broad concepts in great detail. Since I learn new things from every book I read, I find it essential that the valuable information I read stays locked in my memory, but I doubt it does.
Shortly after reading a book, I can only give a general summary of the message that the book tries to convey. I'm glad I can do this even with books I read years ago, but the troubling thing is that if all I can remember is a personalised blurb, then what separates me from someone who simply reads book reviews? That would be a more efficient way of mentally collecting book summaries.
In his book Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, author Joshua Foer explores the sub-culture of memory competitions and the ancient techniques these self-described mental athletes use to memorise uncanny amounts of information. The book also explores the role that memory has played in the history of mankind, and the insight it reveals is intriguing.
There was a time when a strong memory was considered one of the fundamental indicators of a person's intelligence. This was because books were so scarce that most people who valued knowledge, except for elites who could afford to build their libraries, had no choice but to literally memorise whatever information they discovered in written form. Then, in the 1440s, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and dramatically changed man's relationship with information. Books became widely available, and an external method of storing information was made accessible to almost everyone, severely diminishing the importance of memory.
The advent of the printing press was positive because it greatly aided the progression of human civilisation. Still, it's debatable whether its effect on human beings' approach to reading was beneficial. As Foer so perceptively puts it, "Until relatively recently, people read "intensively." They had only a few books – the Bible, an almanack, a devotional work or two – and they read them repeatedly, usually aloud and in groups so that a narrow range of traditional literature became deeply impressed on their consciousness. Today, we read books "extensively," without much-sustained focus and, with rare exceptions, we read each book only once. We value quantity of reading over quality of reading." People used to read so that the information at hand could be imprinted in their minds, but as for us, the people of today, why do we read? As a writer, the primary hope I have for any writing I produce is for whoever reads it to find it captivating enough for all their anxieties and worries and all the pressures and distractions of the world to be turned off momentarily.
It's becoming harder to achieve this sort of reprieve from reality. We spend more time either in a state of distraction, chasing after what we think will make us better off, or stressing over the idea that our lives aren't progressing as quickly as we would like.
So, there's something magical in producing something that can briefly allow one's mind to escape the world around us. That on its own would be reason enough for me to fold my arms and triumphantly announce that my work is done, but beyond that, I also hope that my writing can open someone's mind to a way of looking at the world that may have never occurred to them before. If it occurred to them, they just as quickly brushed it aside out of fear that its absurdity would waste their time or make others think them strange for even considering it.
Maybe that's the purpose of reading – to open our minds to ways of thinking different from those we know all too well, to give us a new lens through which this world that often seems so monotonous and predictable suddenly comes to life in fresh, vibrant colour. The exact words we read might not imprint on our memories, but at least the ideas conveyed stay with us.
Though they may not directly seem to change our lives, they add to the collection of experiences and concepts we've explored. The person you become is nothing more than the sum of these parts. So perhaps we read as a way of enriching our very identity. On the other hand, perhaps the piece you just read is an idealistic rambling you'll barely remember a week from now. Hopefully, it will get you thinking, if only for a moment.
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