Why is reading on the decline?

Nobody needs to state the fact that reading is on the decline. But look around and you will find that we are generating more information than we ever have had access to in the past. Ask working people and they will tell you they do not find the time to read anything. But then what about our students – whose vocation, duty and responsibility is to voraciously consume information and knowledge?

So wheres the problem?

The problem at least with students who are reading much lesser than their predecessors are the following:

they are spending more time commuting than before
they are spending more time staying in touch than before
they are doing more activities than studying at college
they have less energy than before at the end of day
they have so much to do for others (teachers, college, exams, etc) than before

With all the above and more – even students ask me: ‘Sir, where is the time to read so much that you give us?’

I feel sad for these students because if there is anything that a student can do to build up a knowledge base – it is through reading. Only if they read widely they can see the world (including individuals, families, companies, other social groups) differently. They can observe and identify challenges to work on! They can then contribute through thinking and experiments!

But if there is no reading, it is like going back 50 years in time. Going back to start all over again.

I agree that we can always search solutions to specific questions on Google – but knowledge is not “what can be reached” it is “what has been reached”.

Think about it! I hope this will serve as a trigger for you to protect your reading time or your listening time (if you listen to books than read them).

I read recently that Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, still reads 6 hours a day and he is close to 90 years of age!! He has been doing this for over 60 years!! So where else do we need to go for proof! So where’s the delay – go pick up a book!