Reading: A Waste of Time

It may be a tad counter to my purposes to write a column arguing that reading is a waste of time. But as do most intriguing titles, this one has a qualification. Overall, I find in my own life that reading for its own sake – ‘simple reading’ -- is not generally a productive use of my time. But there is another way. Reading for a purpose – ‘reactionary reading’.

First, what is this so-called simple reading?

It is a hobby, or at worst, a form of procrastination. Instead of creating something, tangible or intangible, we fill our minds with information that feels good and that we will probably never use again.

If you’ve picked a worthy work of fiction, it is an enjoyable endeavor. It can make you genuinely happy,  it can pass the time, and it can provide a topic of conversation with  your neighbor on the subway. These are worthy reasons, and I often use them to justify those enjoyable diversions throughout the year. But after a time the plot details become fuzzy, and those interesting tidbits of fact will be forgotten.

Maybe fiction is not your love, and you’d rather fill your head with scientific facts and interesting anecdotes from history. I certainly enjoy my reflexive education and value the time I sit reading. But if you are anything like me, soon all that knowledge so enthusiastically inscribed in your head will fade with the ink of the mind. You're left with nothing.

My true point is not that you shouldn’t read. Reading is crucial for our modern economy and for the educated citizen. But to squeeze the most out of a book, you must become a reactionary reader, one who allows text to stimulate action.

What do I mean?

This column is an example. I was reading an intriguing analysis of online marketing and public relations today when it struck me that I learn so much and so rarely apply it. I decided to write, to jump back on the bandwagon of personal PR. I allowed the ideas to spur me to action. Reading as inspiration.

If you’re reading a work of fiction (however trivial), write a response – if only for your own records. Forevermore, you’ll have a summary that will allow you to recall the book with greater ease and remember your thought processes.

Sure, there is some inherent good to simple reading. It isn’t watching television or surfing YouTube. It can allow you to take a break from a harsh reality, to find some solace. It can develop your vocabulary and lead to a familiarity with different writing styles. And it can provide the foundations for further education, especially for youth.

But there comes a point when pure education need end and action and creation need begin. A point to transform reading from a pleasurable activity to a useful activity. A point when your personal edification helps enlighten others, or at least spurs thought.

This is not a novel idea. Why require term papers and theses if society is only interested in what information you have accumulated over the years? Why do employers seem far more interested in your previous accomplishments than your library? Information retention and memory is easily tested with multiple choice exams. But these tests are useless to society.
It is your actions, creations, and synthesizations that are truly valuable.

Expend a bit of effort and become a reactionary reader. Instead of stewing over that latest political article, write an argument in response to strengthen or weaken the position. If you read a work on revolutionary France, create a YouTube speech summarizing the important points. Maybe a bit of poetry strikes you as exceedingly profound; try to explain your enthusiasm to a friend – more power to you.

Not only will you remember and understand the ideas better, you can influence others in the process and record the effect of a text on your mind.

React,
        Yaffe