In this digital age is reading a book becoming an obsolete skill?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
India
October 16, 2024 12:42pm CST
Reading a book is a powerful technique to gain knowledge, improve vocabulary, increase attention span and also stimulate the mind. Reading a book helps individuals to look at new perspectives, learn new ideas. It is a very valuable skill that helps in critical thinking.
There was a time when people would spend lot of hours in library to gain knowledge. However, in today’s digital age , people are turning to digital media for information. E-books , audiobooks and multimedia platforms have in a way made the traditional reading seen as inconvenient and perhaps outdated. With busier lives , online media serves the need of information gathering or learnings. People find it convenient to multitask while learning with help of multimedia, such as driving while listening to podcast , something not possible of doing while reading a physical book. Perhaps a big reason for “reading a book “ becoming an outdated skill.
So, do you think in this digital age is reading a book becoming an obsolete skill?
13 people like this
12 responses
@arunima25 (87737)
• Bangalore, India
16 Oct
It's definitely reducing. And I find that even the attention span is reducing these days. Everything is fast paced, instant gratification is the rule these days. The patience to read a book or for that matter watch a long video is also not there. I am happy and proud that my home is one such oasis where reading books is still in fashion. My daughters read like I do. My elder one is a voracious reader.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
•
17 Oct
I have always been a huge fan of reading books. My kids grew up reading books, too. Somehow I am always somewhat surprised when someone says they never read books at all. I can’t imagine being without a book!
2 people like this
@arunima25 (87737)
• Bangalore, India
17 Oct
@MarieCoyle You sound like me. I can't survive without books and music. They are my lifeline.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Good to hear about your children. The attention span is definitely reducing due to the less reading of physical books. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Exactly! People are now interested in ebooks and audiobooks than getting a physical copy of a book and reading it. Thanks for sharing!
@luisadannointed (5705)
• Philippines
18 Oct
I think most of the working people are using e-book.
But some of the bookish are still buying books, and kids are till using books in school.
Maybe one of the effects of the Pandemic - more people become more digital, and that makes other bookstore closed down which is very sad... but I am hoping that Books will never phase out - that's going to be very sad.
It will hurt the economy plus it will be an added problem to the employment rate specially in our country.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
25 Oct
Well, hopefully books would continue to be physical atleast for the important ones. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
@MarieCoyle As long as physical book lovers exist , physical books will exist. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Good to meet a book lover and happy to read your interests. Thanks for sharing!
@Shivram59 (34738)
• India
17 Oct
Reading books has been my habit and a part of my daily routine.I prefer reading offline.Mostly I read Hindi literature.I have a small home library of my own.It consists of more than 200 books.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (34738)
• India
17 Oct
@RevivedWarrior 
I'm on mylot since 2011-2012.I had written a post about it years ago.I feel;perhaps it would be against the guidelines of the site.
I'm on mylot since 2011-2012.I had written a post about it years ago.I feel;perhaps it would be against the guidelines of the site.1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Wow- thats a wonderful habit .Good to know you have your own library. Perhaps you need to write a discussion on same. Thanks for sharing!
@allknowing (134950)
• India
17 Oct
I have forgotten when it was the last time I read a novel (lol)
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Our busy lives keeps us away from a habit we used to love as a child- reading books. Thanks for sharing!
@kaylachan (68196)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Oct
I don't think so. Not everyone likes to read or has time to. You can still learn rather you read a book or not. People learn differently. I can't see and I do my reading by listening. I can type better then I can write, but I'm still smart as ever. So, I don't think you need to necessarilly read physical books to be smart. To think creativly, or be educatated.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
I agree it is up to the individuals and their interests. And we do not need to depend on physical books for reading. Thanks for sharing!
@psanasangma (7279)
• India
17 Oct
I don't think so ! I prefer hardcopy, physical book to read than on online. I also realise I am more focussed ... Funny part is despite having handy phones and laptop whenever I read and in need of noting down my body autopilot to notebook and pen not the m.s words, notepad 
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
There are only few who would still prefer the physical books to read. But the physical book reading gives us more focus and help to get immersed, unlike the digital ones. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Reading a physical book is a feeling that needs to be experienced. Thanks for sharing!
@MarshaMusselman (38867)
• Midland, Michigan
17 Oct
No. I think a low of people still enjoy reading. I know Amazon still sells a lot of books.
As far as getting information, I do think we turn to search engines for a lot of that.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
True for most of the generation born before 2010. For Post 2010 generation, I see a trend where they prefer digital copies than physical. The problem is the importance of physical book reading is less emphasised by some. Thanks for sharing!
@anya12adwi (8215)
• India
16 Oct
Not obsolete but yeah becoming expensive and less popular!
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (1902)
• India
17 Oct
Reading a book is definitely getting expensive with physical books becoming more expensive than paperbacks or digital copies. Thanks.
