10 days ago
- Author recalls reading peak at age 11-12, viewing books as knowledge and key to adulthood, followed by a long decline.
- Adversaries to reading included middle school social pressure, school system's lack of support, college social life, work life, love, money worries, and social media addiction.
- Writing became a hindrance as author felt overly influenced by past reading, needing to 'forget' to find a unique voice.
- Watching 'The Social Dilemma' highlighted phone addiction, prompting efforts to relearn reading through tricks like motivated reading and writing reviews.
- Strategies include reading for writing projects, using technology for notes, setting airplane mode, and timers to combat digital distractions.
- Reading is seen as a civilizational obligation to preserve deep concentration and continuity with pre-digital past amid cultural collapse.