Reading in the Digital Age

We've never had more access to written content. Libraries fit in our pockets. Any book is a click away. Yet deep reading—the kind that transforms thinking—feels harder than ever.

The Attention Economy Problem

Every app, notification, and feed is engineered to capture attention. Reading a book requires giving attention freely, without algorithmic rewards. This creates friction.

The average person checks their phone 96 times daily. Each check fragments attention, making sustained focus on a single text increasingly difficult.

Strategies That Actually Work

1. Dedicated Devices

Using a Kindle or physical books removes the temptation to switch apps. The device's limitations become its strength.

2. Time Blocking

Reading requires protected time:

• Morning: 30 minutes before checking anything digital
• Evening: 1 hour before sleep (with blue light minimized)

3. The Two-Book System

Always have two books going:

• One challenging (requires focus)
• One lighter (for tired evenings)

This prevents abandoning reading entirely when energy is low.

4. Notes and Synthesis

Active engagement beats passive consumption:

1. Highlight sparingly
2. Write margin notes
3. Summarize chapters in your own words
4. Connect ideas to existing knowledge

The Compound Effect

Reading 25 pages daily = ~9,000 pages yearly = ~30 books.

Small, consistent effort creates remarkable results. The key is consistency, not intensity.

What I'm Reading Now

Currently working through:

• "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman
• "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari (re-read)

Both reward slow, deliberate reading with insights that compound over time.

What's your reading system? What books are on your nightstand?