In a recent blog post to MacSparky Labs members, David Sparks wrote about The Importance of Reading (you won’t be able to access this blog post if you’re not a member of MacSparky Labs). He notes that he is reading more books in recent years, which is what I have experienced as well.
In this post, MacSparky discusses an article by Maryanne Wolf, Cultivating Reading in a Digital Age. While he agrees with Wolf’s contention that there is a major problem with children’s unrestricted use of digital entertainment, and that “these attention-sucking apps are causing our analytical skills to atrophy,” he does not agree with Wolf’s contention that analog reading is superior to digital reading.
Wolf’s Thesis — Digital Device Use by Children Encourages Distraction and Skimming, Leading to Less Deep Thought
Wolf cites studies showing that in the digital age, children are growing up learning primarily to skim stimulating and constantly distracting material on their digital devices. As a result, they are not developing the skills of deep reading necessary to facilitate deep thinking.
I have no doubt this is true. I’ve observed my teenage and pre-teen grandchildren interacting with their phones. They are joined at the hip to their digital devices, watching an endless stream of entertaining TikTok videos.
The constant dopamine hits are clearly addictive. They have no idea how to entertain themselves and are not interested in reading. They certainly don’t do any deep thinking based on reading. I worry about their mental development as they move toward adulthood.
Wolf’s Solution? Read From Analog Sources, Not Digital
Wolf argues that the solution to this problem is to read from analog sources such as print books and magazines, not digital.
Wolf Makes Two Arguments Supporting Her Idea That Analog Reading Leads to Deeper Thinking
She bases this advice on two alleged factors:
1. “The medium of print advantages slower, more attention- and time-requiring processes.” Wolf seems to assume that because the reading is on paper, it’s somehow slower and takes more time.
That’s not my experience at all. I don’t find reading a book on a digital device any faster than reading a paper book. Anyone who has watched students reading analog materials in a classroom or library knows that reading a physical book can be done rapidly, and with multiple distractions (paper balls shot across aisles, notes passed, conversations). Distractions existed long before the digital age, and it takes focus and planning to avoid distractions, whether I’m reading a digital or analog book.
2. While deep reading is possible on digital, it’s harder “because screens are associated with distraction.” Wolf assumes that because some digital devices are distracting (if the distractions are not limited by the user), then deep reading on those devices will be harder.
I’m not convinced that just because a digital device is “associated” with distracting activities, that automatically means it’s an issue for reading. If I watch regular TV, there are multiple distractions in the form of blaring ads. But that doesn’t mean when I stream a movie without ads on that same digital TV, it’s hard to watch the movie and become deeply immersed in the storyline because that screen is “associated with distraction.”
Wolf’s Concerns About Skimming
A lot of Wolf’s argument is based on her perception that skimming “is the new norm for reading.” While I’m certain that a lot of this is due to the always-moving constant distractions of many digital social media platforms, this is likely due to other factors as well.
With the information explosion of recent years, all of us are bombarded with multiple sources of information. Skimming is a natural reaction to this overload and an effective tool for sorting out the material worth a closer reading.
Skimming Is Not A Digital Phenomenon
Skimming has been a useful reading tool for a long time, before there even were digital devices. In 1940, Mortimer Adler wrote taught skimming as the first level of reading in How to Read A Book.
He saw great value in skimming. “Your main aim is to discover whether the book requires a more careful reading. Secondly, skimming can tell you lots of other things about the book, even if you decide not to read it again with more care.”
Of course, he wasn’t advocating only skimming, but skimming today can also be a valuable tool for readers. It doesn’t matter whether this skimming is in the digital or analog realm.
Jumping on the Digital vs. Analytical Bandwagon
Recently a number of tech podcasters and writers have argued that analog reading is somehow superior to digital reading.
Almost all of these arguments are based primarily on the subjective feelings of the speaker or writer. They often attempt to support their feelings with arguments based on productivity-type concepts, but the arguments are often lacking in factual evidence.
Chris Bailey made a similar pitch in his recent book about burnout, How to Calm Your Mind . See my review, A Review of How To Calm Your Mind, by Chris Bailey.
Bailey indicates that in his experience, he always feels more calm and more centered and less stressed by reading an analog book, rather than reading a digital book. I and many others, however, do not experience this at all. If anything, for many of us, the reading experience is improved by using digital.
There seems to be almost a “pendulum effect” going on here. While in the past the benefits of digital reading have been argued and embraced by many, now there’s a reaction in the opposite direction. It almost has a nostalgic “those were the good old days” sense to it.
I think a lot of the digital vs. analog reading discussion is based primarily on the subjective preference of the person. However, when we choose to take a position on something, we tend to come up with logical arguments after the fact to justify our preference.
This is especially true in the productivity community. People feel obliged to make “better productivity” arguments about what is really just personal preference. My hunch is that a lot of the digital vs. analog discussion is about this phenomenon at work.
It’s pretty obvious that digital device distractions can be easily controlled by implementing simple and readily available solutions like Focus Modes or using a Kindle reader that has no other functions. And it’s also obvious that people can be easily distracted while reading analog books. That went on long before the digital age. Distractions really aren’t the issue here.
Analog Reading is Not the Solution to Digital Distractions
The problem is not using digital devices to read, but how we use those devices.
There’s no reason to “throw out the baby with the bathwater” by shunning digital reading.
If children are given unrestricted use of digital devices, with no adult controls and restrictions, they, of course, will fall victim to constant distractions. The media is specifically designed to hook them in and keep them hooked for as long as possible.
Some intelligent people designed these digital social media platforms to do just that. They are very successful at what they do.
However, it’s not that difficult to remove or control distractions on digital devices.
There are a number of easily available solutions to reduce or eliminate distractions:
1. Apps can be removed. If I determine that an app I have on my device is overly distracting and addictive, I can delete it.
2. Apps can have time limitations placed on them. Apple devices have a built-in Screen Time feature that allows me to control a child’s access to apps, or my access to apps.
3. Apple Focus Modes can be set up to block distractions while reading. I have a reading focus mode that starts automatically when I open my Kindle or Apple Books app. It allows only a limited number of people I choose (family members) to send me notifications, and no apps can send me notifications while this focus mode is in operation.
4. Apple custom home screens can be built showing a limited number of widgets and apps and tied in with Focus Modes.I have custom home screens on my iPad for reading and for my morning routine, which is app-based. By limiting what is visible on each custom Home Screen, I also limit distractions. I’m much less tempted to open a distracting app if I can’t see it, and have to navigate away to get to it.
5. There are also apps that will allow you to lock a device to use a single app. iMazing is an example. You can set a child’s device or your own to only use one app at a time. The hassle of changing the settings makes it unlikely you’ll switch to another app on a whim.
“I read (nearly) exclusively on electronic devices. … I don’t see any difference between reading a physical book and reading a Kindle, distraction-wise.”
David Sparks
I agree 100% with him.
A recent episode of the Mac Power Users podcast was dedicated to exploring the topic, Fighting Digital Distractions. In this episode, the hosts describe many ways you can control and eliminate digital distractions.
Digital Reading Has Huge Advantages Over Analog
I can read just as deeply using a digital book as an analog book. In fact, I often have better deep reading experiences using a digital book.
Digital reading provides important benefits that don’t come with analog reading:
1. Digital books can be electronically highlighted and saved for later review or search. When I highlight a section in a digital book I think is important, it’s automatically synced to my Readwise account.
Every morning, as a part of my morning routine, I open the Readwise app (uh oh, more digital!) and review 15 random highlights I’ve made. It’s one of the most valuable and productive habits I have.
It reminds me of thoughts I considered significant and had forgotten about. Furthermore, it is frequently the spark that inspires a future blog post. I share these highlights with friends and family.
How often did I review my highlights in an analog book? Almost never.
I can also download book highlights from Readwise into my Personal Knowledge Management system. When I do an electronic search on a topic, it brings up book highlights. Highlights can also be searched in Readwise.
2. A digital device is often lighter and easier to hold than a paper book. A Kindle reader or iPad is often much lighter than a paper book and is easier to hold and manipulate. It’s certainly much lighter than the backpack full of books I used to carry in graduate school.
3. Digital devices can hold an almost unlimited number of books. I remember taking up room in my suitcase by packing several books on a trip. I wasn’t sure what I’d want to read, or I’d be gone from home for a long time on military temporary duty.
With digital books, I can take almost my entire library with me. I don’t have to decide what to take or use up room and weight in my suitcase.
4. Digital books are easier to read (especially indoors). With my iPad or a Kindle, I don’t have to worry about lighting.
I can read in any light, even no light. That’s a huge advantage as I grow older, and my eyes need significant brightness to read.
Another big factor for me as I age is that I can easily increase (or decrease) the font size. I have a couple of professional paper books that have such small fonts that I had to purchase a hand magnifier to be able to read them. Using a magnifier makes the reading process awkward and very distracting. That wouldn’t be necessary if digital versions of these books were available.
Digital vs. Analog Reading — Conclusion
To Read Deeply, Control Distractions — Digital or Analog Doesn’t Matter
I can read just as deeply in a digital book as in an analog book. The key is to control distractions on the digital device, just as you must control distractions in the analog world to deeply read a paper book.
A Kindle reader doesn’t have notifications, email, tempting apps, etc. So, there are no digital distractions to control.
An iPad can easily limit digital distractions with a reading focus mode that automatically engages when you open reading apps. Distractions can be controlled.
If You Prefer Reading Analog Books, That’s OK
If you prefer reading analog books for some reason, that’s fine. Maybe you just enjoy the feel, texture, and presence of a paper book. If that’s your preference, don’t let my preference for digital books stop you.
We all have personal preferences that operate within the realm of productivity. There’s plenty of room to allow for personal preferences, and we don’t have to justify our preferences by arguing are chosen method is more productive than another.