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philosophy
July 2006 
Reading: How good is it for you and can it get bad?
Martin
Yesterday, my friend Roberto pointed out to me how many books he has to read and, instantly, I connected with him. It's unbelievable how many books I'm reading and that I WANT to read. It seems that the most interesting people that I connect with are avid, voracious readers who devour virtually anything they can get their hands on, from encyclopedias all the way to the information printed on the back on their hair conditioner bottle. They are massively curious individuals who are on an undending quest for bettering themselves, identifying solutions to problem and finding problems for the solutions they identify.
Which leads me to wonder.... Is reading exclusively good for us? Can reading become hurtful at some point? I mean, not in the sense that we may tire our eyes, but strictly in a psychological sense. Any ideas on that?
Access: Public
I am a voracious reader. I feel like I'm always reading several books at the same time, and I just go nuts in a library or bookstore. I could spend hours devouring it all. I'm just so hungry to know a lot, because I feel like it enriches your perspective. I have definitely wondered if it was bad for me before, though. I wonder what life experiences I could be having if I weren't reading, or what is the best budget of my time. I also wonder if feeding my brain with so much opinion blurries my creative instinct, or the power of original thought. I'm afraid of getting too cultured or obsessed with becoming cultured… I think there's a balance… So usually, I don't end up finishing books. I just go in quick spurts, getting a fix every now and then. I just started “The End of Poverty.” I'm also reading “A People's History of the US.” What are you reading?
I don't think reading can be bad for you at all unless you use it as an excuse to not live your own life (which you obviously do not) reading many things opens up many doors in your mind and you never know where the light might come from for you. Close the book if it is not to your liking…
For me a science fiction book called “Stranger in a strange land” by Robert Heinlein that I read when I was 8 or so started me on my journey of exploring the connection between physics and spirituality.
and an exciting ride it has been…
I have read your pod. I used to do, on a small scale, what you are doing on a large scale.
I will be joing your pod and will add things as I think of them.
Aloha
Diane