I keep seeing think pieces on reading books and guides on how to read books (e.g. https://qz.com/963692/how-to-read-more-books-this-year-according-to-harvard-research/) because it turns out reading books is a great way to learn things. And knowing things is useful. For capitalism.
I just want to point at that business trend in mute open mouthed horror for a bit. Care to join me?
👈😨
@selenized If it takes the prospect of financial success to motivate people to read more, so be it. If someone wants to prove the earth is flat or vaccines cause autism and it gets them to read scientific articles instead of watching YouTube or commenting on Facebook, that's a win in my book.
@selenized Yeah, that's true. But sadly, I already accepted that as given - I see it in my own behaviour, too much social media and the like has instilled a mild version of ADD in me where I get bored of books way too quickly and start distracting myself. The lack of instant gratification (compared to the hyperactivity of current mass media) doesn't make it easy.
So "hijacking" (for lack of a better word) online media to get people to read books is still valuable, imho.
@redacted I still live in a magical bubble where people read books as a matter of course 👴
Though, now that I think about it, I've had trouble finding a bookclub where people can commit to reading even a book a month. People just don't read, and I get frustrated and give up on them. But I average about a book a week so...🙄
@redacted I was pointing more at the perceived need to tell people that books are a thing.
Like if the new trend in business think pieces was on how you shouldn't straight up murder your employees. Sure that's good advice, but doesn't it say something dark about humanity that we _need_ that think piece?