1featherbear
Talk amongst yourselves:
Flora Champy. Aeon, 04/24/2026: Does reading do us any good? "Stripped of easy moralising, literature makes us relish the search for truth in an age when many believe truth to be dead."
Flora Champy. Aeon, 04/24/2026: Does reading do us any good? "Stripped of easy moralising, literature makes us relish the search for truth in an age when many believe truth to be dead."
2Cecrow
Countries I know a thing or two about that I'll never visit in my lifetime. Historical incidents that nobody in my life has ever talked about and I wouldn't otherwise know, many of which provide necessary background to understand current events. Opinions on religion, philosophy and politics that are better articulated than anybody in my family or neighbourhood could manage. Shared wisdom from centuries ago. Other peoples' shoes whose daily lives I could have scarcely imagined for myself. Fantastical worlds of adventure and frightening moments I can enjoy vicariously, knowing I am safe. Visions of the future filled with hope and warnings. Insights into realms of science and technology by experts in those fields I would never find the time time to study and learn for myself. Yes, I'd say I've gotten some good out of it.
3DebiCates
>2 Cecrow: Ditto what Cecrow said!
I'll add it does us good to experience pleasure. Also admiration of Art well done. That connecting to the artist writer, to the creative spark, makes life more interesting. Sometimes, more tolerable even. Imagine if we could read nothing but streams of facts in the present moment. I'd be looking for a sharp knife, it would be too much to bear.
I'll add it does us good to experience pleasure. Also admiration of Art well done. That connecting to the artist writer, to the creative spark, makes life more interesting. Sometimes, more tolerable even. Imagine if we could read nothing but streams of facts in the present moment. I'd be looking for a sharp knife, it would be too much to bear.
4alco261
You need to remember that the point of a public education is to teach you things others have found useful in navigating life. What must be remembered is this education is the bare minimum. If you want to get past the bare minimum and understand/know more then the form of organized presentation of information known as books is the best way to go. >2 Cecrow: gives you an excellent list of the good reading books can do.
A few more thoughts
I can't find the reference but it has been said if you read three good books about any subject you know more about that subject than 90% of the rest of the people on the planet. Note- this is not skill acquisition just knowledge of the subject.
Another aspect is connections - if you read across a broad spectrum of subjects time and again you will find yourself reading something and suddenly realize you ran into that person, place, historical fact, concept, etc. in a completely different context because of a book you read which didn't have much of anything to do with the book you are currently reading. When you make these connections the increase in knowledge/understanding/appreciation is not additive it is multiplicative.
It should be remembered that an expert in a room does not know infinitely more than everyone else - he/she just knows one more thing than everyone else and that one more thing can make all the difference in the world.
A few more thoughts
I can't find the reference but it has been said if you read three good books about any subject you know more about that subject than 90% of the rest of the people on the planet. Note- this is not skill acquisition just knowledge of the subject.
Another aspect is connections - if you read across a broad spectrum of subjects time and again you will find yourself reading something and suddenly realize you ran into that person, place, historical fact, concept, etc. in a completely different context because of a book you read which didn't have much of anything to do with the book you are currently reading. When you make these connections the increase in knowledge/understanding/appreciation is not additive it is multiplicative.
It should be remembered that an expert in a room does not know infinitely more than everyone else - he/she just knows one more thing than everyone else and that one more thing can make all the difference in the world.
5MarthaJeanne
What difference does it make? I read because I enjoy it. It doesn't have to 'do me any good' beyind that.
Even nonficyion. I read it because it interests me, not because I expect any use from the facts and connections I may pick up.
If you spend your reading time in most social media it does a lot of good to the tech companies and the advertising people. I'd rather read books.
Even nonficyion. I read it because it interests me, not because I expect any use from the facts and connections I may pick up.
If you spend your reading time in most social media it does a lot of good to the tech companies and the advertising people. I'd rather read books.
6DebiCates
>1 featherbear: I liked the question. Glad you asked it and I hope to see more perspectives. It gave me pleasure to think about, made me think about why I read beyond the mere obvious pleasure of it. In fact, I can't think of an instance where pleasure doesn't also serve some tangential purpose. It's as if it is part of our evolution: that something that serves a purpose (food, sex, knowledge, sports) is encouraged in our brains with pleasure, to help promote survival,
It is commonly accepted that reading, fiction especially, increases empathy, too. Though, it seems, not 100% of the time.
I don't know if social media does the same, though I suspect it does. I can't tell you how much I've seen, on Instagram especially, that has increased my awareness of all kinds of perspectives, of beauty of the immense diversity of mankind. Here on LT, a social media site for those that use it that way, it seems to increase that empathy as well. Again, not 100% of the time.
It is commonly accepted that reading, fiction especially, increases empathy, too. Though, it seems, not 100% of the time.
I don't know if social media does the same, though I suspect it does. I can't tell you how much I've seen, on Instagram especially, that has increased my awareness of all kinds of perspectives, of beauty of the immense diversity of mankind. Here on LT, a social media site for those that use it that way, it seems to increase that empathy as well. Again, not 100% of the time.
7keristars
I'm nosy / curious and just like to know things.
I like books that give me new perspectives, too.
Reading broadly is a great way to satisfy curiosity but also expand it.
But also reading is entertaining and there's nothing wrong with wanting entertainment.
I like books that give me new perspectives, too.
Reading broadly is a great way to satisfy curiosity but also expand it.
But also reading is entertaining and there's nothing wrong with wanting entertainment.
8Bookmarque
This discussion put me in mind of this -
“‘There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. . . . And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!‘”
Which is a quote from Fred, Scrooge's nephew in A Christmas Carol.
In this case, I think of the original question's use of the word good to mean something that has had a material difference to the positive, maybe in the sense that we have learned something useful about something else or ourselves. Maybe we can do something with that understanding that could be tangible. So my interpretation that 'good' in the OP's question is more like the word profited in Fred's assertion. Some might characterize "profiting" from reading as beside the point, that reading is enjoyment and entertainment, but that in itself is good and, (dare I say it?) profitable. When we do something enjoyable, we unleash all sorts of lovely and delicious chemicals in our brains. That, me thinks, is good.
“‘There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. . . . And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!‘”
Which is a quote from Fred, Scrooge's nephew in A Christmas Carol.
In this case, I think of the original question's use of the word good to mean something that has had a material difference to the positive, maybe in the sense that we have learned something useful about something else or ourselves. Maybe we can do something with that understanding that could be tangible. So my interpretation that 'good' in the OP's question is more like the word profited in Fred's assertion. Some might characterize "profiting" from reading as beside the point, that reading is enjoyment and entertainment, but that in itself is good and, (dare I say it?) profitable. When we do something enjoyable, we unleash all sorts of lovely and delicious chemicals in our brains. That, me thinks, is good.
9DebiCates
>8 Bookmarque: More ditto'ing!
Very well said, Kris. I love that you included a point from Literature itself.
Very well said, Kris. I love that you included a point from Literature itself.
10DebiCates
>7 keristars: You've reminded me of this quote, from Dororthy Parker, one of my all time favorite quotes in the world (forgive me if you've seen me post it elsewhere before),
"The cure for boredom is curiosity.
There is no cure for curiosity."
"The cure for boredom is curiosity.
There is no cure for curiosity."
11Bookmarque
>10 DebiCates: That's a good one! Recently I bought a book because it delves into the life of my favorite American Revolutionary War guy, Henry Knox. I know a bit about him, but he was so cool I want more. Tasty brain chemicals.
