Wow, Bret! Perhaps, also, this suggests why political discussion has degenerated into a battle between two camps of battling second graders. Very disturbing!! Thanks !!!
The loss of interiority is what bothers me the most. The groupthink of the herd has always been a danger, but now the wheels of conformity have been thoroughly greased.
I read about this tech couple the other year who dropped out, moved to the country, and gave up the hyperconnected worlds of smartphone and internet. At first they found it excruciating, but little by little, their concentration spans improved and they started reading books again.
So the damage is reversible. But how many people would take that option? Everything associated with education and work now is hooked up to virtual reality and digital abstraction. Reflection, contemplation, and original, independent critical thinking is increasingly being regarded as self-indulgent, nebulous, pretentious, wooly. Depth has become stigmatised as elitist.
My moments reading become more precious and I am treating musty books on the shelves as if they are treasures. For example, how else could I savor the autobiography of Anita O'Day or the masterful 20th century commentary of Garry Wills?
A poinant, insightful essay. I know it's darkly themed but for some reason I am inspired. Unfortunately, my ability to expound on why has disappeared, but I feel it.
Maynard. G. Krebs did: "“Man, this Joyce cat really blows my mind, you dig? It’s like reading one long beat poem where everybody’s hung up on breakfast and guilt.”
Indeed, tick-tock often has me by the short hairs. Mostly snippets and congressional hearings, cute little animal stuff to keep from getting too depressed, anti-trump messages outlining one new outrage after another, and science and cosmos teasers. Nothing in depth at least 1/2 hour on most days.
You help make me aware, though being a a sober drunk and clean addict, I am already aware, that his is a terrible addiction, and caution is in order. But you give that extra little shot in the arm!
Last year I finally read The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. Four books. Dense writing. I own the boxed set, it was a gift from Thomas Chapin. Wow, was it worth it! I'd like to read them all again!
Wow, Bret! Perhaps, also, this suggests why political discussion has degenerated into a battle between two camps of battling second graders. Very disturbing!! Thanks !!!
The loss of interiority is what bothers me the most. The groupthink of the herd has always been a danger, but now the wheels of conformity have been thoroughly greased.
I read about this tech couple the other year who dropped out, moved to the country, and gave up the hyperconnected worlds of smartphone and internet. At first they found it excruciating, but little by little, their concentration spans improved and they started reading books again.
So the damage is reversible. But how many people would take that option? Everything associated with education and work now is hooked up to virtual reality and digital abstraction. Reflection, contemplation, and original, independent critical thinking is increasingly being regarded as self-indulgent, nebulous, pretentious, wooly. Depth has become stigmatised as elitist.
My moments reading become more precious and I am treating musty books on the shelves as if they are treasures. For example, how else could I savor the autobiography of Anita O'Day or the masterful 20th century commentary of Garry Wills?
A poinant, insightful essay. I know it's darkly themed but for some reason I am inspired. Unfortunately, my ability to expound on why has disappeared, but I feel it.
I felt encouraged (also chastised) to change my own trajectory into illiteracy and thoughtlessness.
C'mon! Did anyone ever - EVER - actually read Ulysses? It was a prop on my shelves for years until I replaced it with a digital photo frame. ✔️
Maynard. G. Krebs did: "“Man, this Joyce cat really blows my mind, you dig? It’s like reading one long beat poem where everybody’s hung up on breakfast and guilt.”
Very good article. Makes me sad, but I am not surprised at all.
Thank you!
Very, very good, Bret. Alarmingly true.
Great essay!
Fahrenheit 451, just burn the damn things, they’re dangerous 🔥
Indeed, tick-tock often has me by the short hairs. Mostly snippets and congressional hearings, cute little animal stuff to keep from getting too depressed, anti-trump messages outlining one new outrage after another, and science and cosmos teasers. Nothing in depth at least 1/2 hour on most days.
You help make me aware, though being a a sober drunk and clean addict, I am already aware, that his is a terrible addiction, and caution is in order. But you give that extra little shot in the arm!
Last year I finally read The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. Four books. Dense writing. I own the boxed set, it was a gift from Thomas Chapin. Wow, was it worth it! I'd like to read them all again!
Thomas was a friend, a wonderful person and superb musician. He left the concert, much much too soon.