Let's be honest, when was the last time you read something? Anything. Besides perhaps a small portion of my blog article yesterday or the day before that. See, there is something very profound about reading, which seems to be a culture that has quickly escaped us as people, leaving us in void and darkness. Mhm... void and darkness reminds me of one of the powerful videos of Dr. Myles Munroe, who's one of the greatest "Men of God," according to me at least. Check out some of his work on Munroe Global, you will agree with me to some extent.
This is what Dr. Myles says about Genesis 1:2: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." He says the word "darkness" there, according to the original Hebrew word, translates to ignorance. Hence, it's not darkness in the absence of light you get from the sun or the moon. Instead, it's darkness in the absence of knowledge and wisdom. And so, God said, "Let there be light," meaning there was knowledge and wisdom, a set of laws and principles to govern the earth. And so, the waters started dividing from the land, the different firmaments came about, and the earth started bringing forth. Further evidence is found in Genesis 1:14-19, where the sun and moon were created.
Now, before we get all spiritual and into theological arguments, let's revert back to reading and try to understand the implications it has and the consequences of not reading. I was at a workshop sometime ago, and someone talked about reading. One lady said most people are led to believe that this generation does not read, but instead, we just have a different and modernised way of reading. (FYI, she was referring to those carousels that you see on Instagram and those captions over out-of-context videos on TikTok, and in my head, I was like, wow, she's so dumb.)
The Lost Art of Reading
Reading was once the backbone of knowledge acquisition, the gateway to intellectual expansion, and the core of societal advancement. It was a habit so deeply embedded in human culture that it shaped civilisations, sparked revolutions, and birthed some of the greatest thinkers of our time. But today? Not so much. The average person would rather scroll endlessly through their phone than pick up a book. The very thing that has the potential to expand our minds and challenge our perspectives is now seen as a tedious task. (I mean it is very strenuous really, just reading that one page from a book, it's a marathon).
The Rise of Distraction Culture
Blame it on technology, social media, or the general nature of modern life, but the reality remains: we no longer read the way we used to I mean some of us, don't read at all. Studies show that the average human attention span has shrunk to just 8.25 seconds shorter than that of a goldfish. Nicholas Carr, in his book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, argues that the internet is reshaping our cognitive abilities, making deep reading and sustained focus increasingly difficult. Kinda obvious Nicholas isn't. You know what the kicker is? He wrote that in a book, and we don't read, and we don't get to know about the problem, Ah Nicholas...
We are now addicted to quick dopamine hits the kind that comes from watching a 30-second TikTok video rather than engaging with a complex book that requires contemplation, comprehension and patience. Our brains are rewiring themselves to prefer instant gratification over the delayed reward of knowledge. But at what cost? That's the question no one really asks isn't it?
The Consequences of a Declining Reading Culture
The Bible says in Hosea 4:6, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." And that is exactly what is happening. When we abandon reading, we abandon wisdom. When we abandon wisdom, we become intellectually malnourished. Here’s what happens when reading becomes lost :
1. A Decline in Critical Thinking
Books force us to think, analyse, and engage with ideas. Without reading, we lose the ability to think critically, and we become passive consumers of information. This makes us susceptible to misinformation, manipulation, and a herd mentality. Just recently people were going on about how's there's going to be a grade 13 in South Africa from seeing an actual 30 second video on Tik Tok. About 2 million South African reposted and reacted on that without bothering to just go and read find out if there's any truth in that. Now if that does not scare you, congratulations!
2. The Loss of Imagination and Creativity
Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Reading fuels the imagination, allowing us to dream bigger, create new realities, and innovate. Without reading, our creativity stagnates. Even more we don't even get the next best option, knowledge.
3. Emotional and Intellectual Stagnation
Reading exposes us to different cultures, philosophies, and perspectives. It cultivates empathy and broadens our understanding of the world. Without it, we risk becoming narrow-minded, intolerant, and emotionally disconnected. We lose sympathy and we fail to connect with ourselves and each other.
Restoring the Reading Culture
The good news? It’s not too late. We can reclaim the lost culture of reading, one page at a time. Here’s how:
1. Make Reading a Habit
Start small. Read for just 10 minutes a day. Replace one episode of your favourite TV show with a chapter of a book. Over time, it will become second nature. (That's if you don't quit the next day).
2. Choose Books That Interest You
Not all books are boring (well most are). Find a genre that excites you, fiction, self-help, biographies, philosophy, history whatever sparks your curiosity.
3. Use the Bible as a Reading Foundation
The Bible is one of the greatest literary works of all time. Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Reading scripture daily is not just a spiritual practice; it’s an intellectual exercise.
4. Replace Social Media with Books
Try a digital detox. Instead of scrolling through Instagram, read a book. Apps like Kindle, Audible, and Scribd make it easier than ever to access books on the go. It's just a bit dire that one of those Apps will be just next to Tik Tok and Instagram, good luck fighting that urge.
The Power of Reading
Self-help books like Atomic Habits by James Clear and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey emphasise the importance of continuous learning. Reading is a tool that separates the successful from the stagnant. Warren Buffet reads 500 pages a day. Bill Gates reads 50 books a year. Coincidence? (Yes, they are so rich they have so much time on their hand and they are bored to death, so we lie ourselves)
So, the question remains: will you be part of the generation that lets reading die, or will you fight to restore it?
Because, let’s face it, nothing grows in the comfort zone. And if you want to grow, you better start reading.
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