People’s perceptions of the difference between reading on an online device and a paper book are always interesting. Personally in recent years I tend to read much fiction on my iPad kindle app, and purchase nonfiction hardcovers.
But I want to make sure I’m being clear that that is just one dimension of the issue I’m trying to raise.
The bigger issue to me isn’t about the device. It’s about the way reading has changed as we consume so much information in what technically could be called reading. But it’s not reading in the deep immersive way that is most satisfying, and which allows us to interact with the text, and which allows our own responses, ideas and histories to enrich the experience. Instead, reading the constant barrage of interesting online articles, new journalistic pieces, and the deluge of stuff that comes at us in this data-driven world of consumer information is something we do constantly and differently. It’s somewhat more like skimming or speed reading. It’s picking out pertinent facts and ideas; it’s distracted; it doesn’t have our full attention; we don’t want to commit the kind of slow time to it, time to appreciate the beauty of its language and the power of its ideas, we need to get through the deluge. I believe that whether we realize it or not, this kind of constant daily absorbing of information affects our reading of fiction as well. Perhaps without being aware of it, we train ourselves to read differently, and the we are less likely to read in the deep immersive way in which we learned to love reading and books in the first place. I think this can be fixed, but it’s a challenge, and something that needs our attention and our self awareness. I hope you know what I mean.

Last edited by starexplorer (11/25/2022 1:12 pm)

Surtac wrote:

We’ve concluded that the rational response is to restrict our concerns to a small subset of local reality–an ark–and compete for a shrinking set of resources with others doing the same. We’re content to find and inhabit just one zone of positivity, large enough for ourselves and some friends. 

Interesting take, ‘tac. There may well be affinities to a larger sense of helplessness and despair. A counter to that - bringing this back to reading itself - might be that I suspect those most committed to global change and mitigation, those most infused with optimism and activism, are also reading in the same manner we are discussing, and suffering a loss as a result.

But I suspect you are right that in some sense we are dealing with the latest consequence of modernity: the introduction of a new technology on a massive scale, with no sense of the outcome. And with no inkling at the beginning of whether we ought to be concerned, and if so about what. In a substantial sense all of modernity is one massive uncontrolled experiment, with billions of lives at stake… a small change in food production could imperil the globe. In this case, something as basic and old as reading is undergoing an unanticipated change, one no one agreed to in advance. I myself am not hopeless about the world or reading, although I’m very very concerned. I am going to consciously try to change my reading practices, and to attempt to set aside uninterrupted time, to read more slowly, and to reclaim both one of the great joys of life, but also a valuable and irreplaceable mode of experience. We’ll see how it goes -

Last edited by starexplorer (11/26/2022 3:14 pm)

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for reading has taken a serious hit.  I don't find any interest in checking out new writers, and some of the established writers I followed aren't calling to me, either.  I don't know if it's due to various distractions in my life, or that I'm getting jaded. 

Surtac wrote:

I wish you the best of luck with that, Star.  I tried to do something similar when I retired last year: set aside some time each day for regular favourite activities (reading, listening to music, exercise, my own study / research projects etc) but the reality of living in a household that is accurately named Chateau Dysfunction has shown how difficult that can be when I am the individual in the household who is most easily and regularly interrupted - expected to serve as and continually treated as a captive audience of one.

One thing I have found advantageous lately is to move my e-reading from the Kindle app on the PC back to the Kindle device, where I am less likely to distract myself by stopping and digging for a reference or jumping down a research rabbit hole. Almost all of my reading these days is in ebook form, and I am much more selective and discriminating about adding physical books into the collection - shelf space is at a real premium right now.

 

Thank you ‘tac. I have plans to begin major reading, writing, artistic and study projects as my time frees up. As the kids are no longer in the house, I’m hoping the distractions will be kept to a minimum. As long as I don’t encumber myself with the detritus of the digital world, and the fruitless expenditure of my life’s energy. That and retaining good health! Will certainly report back over the coming years!
 

Yeah, that "doomscrolling" is a nasty habit. I've cut my scanning of newsfeeds to a rapid scan of titles only. The only things that catch my attention are movie news, archelogy news and a very light touch of astrology--for the fun of it. Having people interrupt you off of newsfeeds is a good thing: gets you off the depressing bits. Limiting your time on twitter (isn't there a better spot for you than this?) and going back to the old reading habits will help. Re-reading is great! And yeah, our tastes change as our mental state ages.