“Oh, we’ve forgotten how to read books! Our attention spans are too short now!”

Shut up.

The False Nostalgia of Book Supremacy

Have you ever considered that new media might actually be a better way to consume information? That it’s faster, more convenient, and more aligned with how humans naturally process information?

How Humans Actually Learn

Our ancestors evolved to recognize visual patterns — spotting ripe berries, tracking animals, identifying threats. They needed to quickly parse environmental information for survival. They didn’t evolve to decode abstract symbols on a page for hours at a time.

Reading is an artificial skill we’ve grafted onto brains designed for visual pattern recognition and rapid information processing.

The Broadcast Era vs. The Internet Era

Television was limited because it was broadcast — you couldn’t easily access the specific information you needed when you needed it. But training videos were popular because they delivered targeted, visual information efficiently.

The internet changed everything. Now you can:

  • Access specific information instantly
  • Learn through multiple modalities simultaneously
  • Get immediate clarification on confusing concepts
  • Follow tangential interests as they arise

The Myth of Detailed Knowledge

“But you need to know things in detail!”

Do you really?

Most knowledge work doesn’t require memorizing every detail — it requires understanding patterns, knowing where to find information, and being able to synthesize insights from multiple sources.

The valuable skill isn’t memorization; it’s knowing how to quickly evaluate, process, and apply information.

Different Media for Different Goals

Books excel at:

  • Deep, linear arguments
  • Complex narrative structures
  • Sustained contemplation
  • Historical context and nuance

New media excels at:

  • Rapid skill acquisition
  • Visual demonstration
  • Interactive learning
  • Real-time updates
  • Collaborative knowledge building

The Real Issue

The problem isn’t that we’ve lost the ability to read books. The problem is assuming there’s only one “right” way to learn.

Some concepts are best learned through text. Others through video, interaction, experimentation, or conversation. The smartest learners use whatever medium delivers understanding most efficiently.

Embrace Media Pluralism

Instead of mourning the “death of reading,” celebrate the explosion of learning options. We live in an era where you can:

  • Watch a 10-minute video to understand a complex concept
  • Read an in-depth article for nuance
  • Discuss ideas in real-time with experts worldwide
  • Practice skills through interactive simulations

This isn’t intellectual decay — it’s intellectual abundance.

The future belongs to people who can fluidly move between media types, extracting value from each according to their strengths. Books aren’t going anywhere, but they’re no longer the only game in town.

And that’s a good thing.