Assembly line reading and writing

I remember once reading an interview with science fiction author William Gibson in which he argued that he could not keep a blog because it would sap his ability to write other things. I think he used a steam engine analogy: arguing that the minor releases of pressure associated with writing blog posts prevent him from developing the working force required for more substantial pieces of writing.

This lines up somewhat with something Nassim Nicholas Taleb said in his book. He argued that excessive focus on day-to-day and hour-to-hour news actually reduces one’s ability to understand the world. This is because it creates the spurious impression of trends when there is really only chatter; also, the time required for such constant perusal saps one’s ability to read more substantial things, like books.

While I don’t have any firm personal plans to respond to these observations, they do seem valid and indicative of a period in history where throughts are addressed in an increasingly frantic and disjointed manner.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan