‘Writing is The Magic, Reading is The Key’

Dr. Leahcim Semaj
Psychologist | Author | Speaker | Management Consultant | Spiritual Guide | Social Philosopher

James Clear says that:
“Writing is the superpower of humankind. It is our truest form of magic. Writing allows you to conjure up something of value where nothing previously existed. It costs little for you to write down the lessons of your life and yet those few minutes spent writing can be life-altering for the right reader. As I once saw it put: “there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words.” Furthermore, writing is the foundation of nearly every technology and innovation because we have to record what we know before we can build upon it. And these innovations are passed down from generation to generation, allowing our children to inherit a richer intellectual fortune than what we were born into. The world is richer because we write and nobody is made poorer in the process.”

If writing is the “superpower,” then reading is its counterpart: the “key that unlocks the magic.”

Reading allows us to access the thoughts, emotions, and wisdom of others across time and space. It is the bridge that connects the writer’s ideas to the reader’s soul.

Through reading, we:

1. Decode Magic: Writing creates something from nothing, but reading brings it to life. It completes the cycle of creation, turning words into understanding, inspiration, and action.
2. Expand Horizons: Reading exposes us to worlds we have never seen, ideas we have never imagined, and experiences we could never live ourselves. It is a portal to infinite learning and empathy.
3. Build Upon Knowledge: By reading, we assimilate the lessons, innovations, and stories left behind by others. It is the mechanism by which humanity grows collectively richer, adding layer upon layer to the foundation laid by those who came before us.
4. Heal and Empower: Just as James Clear observed that there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words, reading allows the wounded to find solace, the seeker to find answers, and the dreamer to find inspiration.
5. Foster Connection: Reading transforms solitary acts of writing into shared human experiences. It weaves a tapestry of connection, enabling us to feel less alone and more deeply understood.

If writing is the act of casting spells, reading is the art of interpreting their meaning and transforming them into something personal, profound, and actionable. It is the skill that allows us to inherit the treasures of human thought and carry them forward into new realms.

What is the likely outcome for those who rarely read but depend on short form videos for information?

For those who rarely read and rely primarily on short-form videos for information, several likely outcomes emerge, both positive and negative, depending on the context of their media consumption:

Positive Outcomes

1. Quick Access to Information: Short-form videos are designed to convey information rapidly and engagingly. Viewers can absorb snippets of knowledge efficiently.
2. Increased Visual and Auditory Learning: For visual or auditory learners, videos can make concepts more accessible and memorable, especially if they include visual aids, animations, or real-world demonstrations.
3. Entertainment and Engagement: Short videos are often entertaining, which can make learning feel less like a chore and more like leisure.
4. Exposure to Diverse Topics: Algorithms often expose users to a wide range of content, which might spark interest in subjects they wouldn’t encounter otherwise.

Negative Outcomes

1. Superficial Understanding: Short videos often lack depth and nuance. Important context, complexity, and critical thinking may be sacrificed for brevity and simplicity.
2. Reduced Critical Thinking Skills: Without engaging deeply with ideas through reading or analysis, viewers may struggle to critically evaluate the accuracy, credibility, or biases of the content they consume.
3. Decreased Attention Span: The rapid, dopamine-driven consumption of short videos may reduce the ability to focus on longer, more complex tasks, including reading and in-depth learning.
4. Limited Knowledge Retention: Quick bursts of information are less likely to be retained long-term compared to knowledge gained through deep reading and reflection.
5. Algorithmic Echo Chambers: The content is often curated by algorithms, reinforcing biases and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives or opposing views.
6. Diminished Empathy and Imagination: Reading fosters empathy and imagination by allowing readers to inhabit the minds of others and explore different worlds. Videos, while engaging, often don’t immerse the viewer in the same way, potentially reducing these qualities.

Broader Implications

Reading will never die, but those that don’t will never live.

• Economic and Social Disparities: Those who don’t engage in reading may miss out on the intellectual and professional growth that reading fosters, potentially widening disparities in knowledge and opportunity.
• Weak Foundation for Innovation: Reading is foundational for developing critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas—all essential for innovation and problem-solving.
• Vulnerability to Misinformation: Short videos can oversimplify or sensationalize information, leaving viewers more susceptible to misinformation or propaganda.

Sweden Going Back to Books

Swedish officials have noticed a drop in key skills like reading and writing among students—mainly because they’ve been glued to screens since they were little kids. The government now sees this as a misstep—ditching traditional methods too quickly without thinking about long-term consequences.

Research shows that reading on screens (especially those with bright lights) can cause more eye strain and less focus compared to paper books. Plus, understanding what you read and remembering it takes a hit when you’re staring at screens. Another issue has been how distracting digital devices can be. Lots of students get sidetracked by games or surfing the web during class instead of sticking to their studies. This screen obsession also raises flags about social skills and attention spans in school settings. Parents and teachers are pretty vocal about these issues; many parents worry about their kids using computers for things other than learning.

Bringing back books doesn’t mean they’re throwing tech out the window; it just means they’ll use digital tools more wisely from now on. They’re still great for mixing up teaching styles or getting online resources but will be used sparingly moving forward. To tackle these problems, Sweden decided to put 104 million euros into bringing books back into classrooms from 2022 to 2025. (Indiadefencereview.com January 13, 2025)

Conclusion

While short-form videos can be a valuable supplement to learning, they are not a replacement for the depth and critical engagement offered by reading. Those who rarely read may miss out on the profound intellectual, emotional, and societal benefits that reading provides, leaving them with a more superficial understanding of the world. Encouraging a balance between the two—leveraging the strengths of both mediums—can foster more well-rounded and informed individuals.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

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