Leverage Notes #12: Reading Is Still A Rich Medium

In a fast paced world of podcasts, videos, and social media, readings give you time with the thoughts of someone who took their time and wrestled with their ideas. This is a grounding force when the world is consistently shifting in terms of the economy, technology, and culture. Being exposed to change prompts you to be reactionary, but reading trains you to be proactive. 

Written content remains distinctive in its ability to remind us how others have faced and gotten through the same or similar circumstances. Whether it’s a contemporary author or one from 500 years ago, the bond of the human experience sticks out when you read. This reminder helps give perspective when we are in the middle of tough times. It can be a strong source of hope. Even short snippets, or quotes, can evoke this response. That’s one reason that the rise of images of quotes have become popular. 

Reading books in particular are effective in teaching you how systems actually behave. You can read the analysis of authors that have generally spent months and years presenting their findings in a consumable fashion. Books give insight into how decisions are made, how things break, or how people tend to respond to change. Because reading is at your own pace, the act of reading slows you down so that you are able to compare against your world view and experiences. And over time, you’re able to map out your past experiences against stories or texts you have read before. This helps with asking good questions and remaining curious.

In this digital age, it’s important to keep reading. 

#LeverageNotes #SystemsThinking #Reading #WrittenContent #SmallLeversLab