If you’re anything like me, finding time to read has become a challenge. Once a passionate reader who devoured everything from short tales to hefty academic texts, I now struggle to stay focused on even the most gripping stories. I often blame my hectic schedule and endless worries—but somehow, I seem to have ample time to scroll through endless internet feeds.
The truth is, my reading habits have shifted dramatically. Most of my reading now occurs on my phone, computer, or tablet, where I skim through headlines and find myself distracted by notifications every few seconds. When I attempt to dive into a lengthy article, a text message interrupts me, compelling me to respond immediately. As a result, when I finally manage to sit down with a physical book, I can’t get through more than a few pages before I feel the urge to check my phone “just to see what’s up.” My ability to absorb text has diminished significantly.
According to a recent NPR segment from the show Note To Self, this phenomenon may not just be a personal struggle. Many of us, especially those from my generation and older, have learned to appreciate “slow reading”—the kind where you can cozy up with a book or sit at your desk underlining passages. However, with the rise of digital reading over the past couple of decades, we now prioritize quick, screen-based snippets of text over the immersive experience of physical books. This shift has led to a decline in our capacity for deep, focused reading, as we become more accustomed to the “non-linear” reading experience, filled with hyperlinks, ads, and constant alerts vying for our attention.
As our reliance on screens grows, our brains are adapting in ways that may not be beneficial. Maryanne Wolf, who heads the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, suggests that our reading circuits are evolving alongside our increased internet usage. The more we engage with digital content, the more we struggle with traditional reading. As Wolf points out, “Use your ability to slow read or lose your ability to slow read.”
Focusing on Our Children
Now, let’s focus on our children. While we developed our reading skills in an era devoid of e-readers and constant connectivity, we must consider how digital devices are shaping the reading habits of younger generations. Dr. Wolf expresses concern over the unknown effects of screens on children’s reading processes.
Research supports the idea that we retain more information from physical books compared to digital ones. An intriguing Norwegian study assigned a mystery novel to 50 adults, with half reading from a paperback and the other half using a Kindle. The results showed that those who read the paperback remembered the sequence of events better than their Kindle counterparts. Additionally, students who take handwritten notes retain more information from lectures than those using laptops. It seems the tactile experience of paper and the spatial arrangement of text on a page enhances our ability to remember and comprehend information.
Of course, e-readers are not going anywhere. I certainly don’t want to lug around a stack of heavy books for a beach getaway, and I doubt my kids are keen on that either. However, Dr. Wolf advocates for fostering a “discerning bi-literate brain.” Sometimes we need quick bites of information from screens, and at other times, we crave the quiet, immersive experience of diving into a book. Dr. Wolf found that consistently reading for two weeks improved her attention span for complex novels. Similarly, one mother, Sarah, decided her son would only read physical books this summer, despite receiving a list of online titles from the library.
In our pursuit of instant information—through news feeds and quick text messages—we should not neglect the skills of slow reading for ourselves or our children. I often feel like my phone is a demanding entity, constantly pulling my focus away from the literary joys I once cherished. And perhaps I’m not alone—Zara, the NPR host, rightly notes, “If you feel like technology is interfering with your life, you might just be onto something.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, encouraging children to embrace paper books this summer could help them develop critical reading skills that are increasingly at risk in our digital age.
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