Idea
Should we read less in the age of AI?
Short answer
Read less where lookup is enough, and more deeply where depth can build ability or change judgment. The aim is to decide what deserves attention rather than simply reduce the number of books.
A book may deserve five minutes, three chapters, ten hours or repeated readings. Stopping a book need not mean poor discipline; it can protect attention for something more important.
Choose depth before speed
- Look up information or ask AI when you need a fact or brief explanation.
- Skim and read summaries when you need a map to decide whether to continue.
- Read deeply when you need to follow reasoning or develop lasting ability.
- Leave room for an unexpected book, even without an immediately provable benefit.
An overly optimized system choosing only what serves current goals may help us move faster in the same old direction. Curiosity and unexpected encounters help reveal questions we did not previously know to ask.
Selective reading is compatible with deep learning. As surface knowledge becomes easier to access, staying long enough with important problems becomes more valuable.