Reading or learning

Reading habit is in danger of extinction; this generation is not interested in books; libraries are just used for quiet naps; books are unfashionable. These are the complaints we hear from parents, academics and schools. They are true yet untrue. True because reading has become rare in its original form. The sight of classic novels lining study rooms and shelves in most houses may be rare in present time; the splatter of digests and short story second hand book shops may not be the norm; the passion to become book club members may not be in priority lists; however that doesn't mean that this is a world that is bereft of knowing, short of knowledge and deficient in learning. If that was the case we would not be amazed at what all is being invented in the world and how what once used to be a fantasy is a reality now.
Thus, this fallacy that the new generation is just not interested in reading needs to be put into its correct perspective. The need to know was never higher than today. The 21st century is known as the knowledge economy where only those countries, companies and individuals will survive who are able to create new things and renew the old things. The only sustainable competitive weapon is no longer machine power but brain power. Therefore, this sweeping statement that the new generation is no longer interested in reading is an assumption based on our understanding of what reading implies. If this generation was not interested in reading they would be out of this global race of newer, better, faster, cheaper.
Most of the literary events and book festivals happening in Pakistan have majority of youngsters thronging them. The school bags of today are more overloaded with books than ever. Research assignments are given at a much earlier age. The myth that reading is out of fashion is not matched by the factual reality. According to the latest Pew Research Center on book reading, 18 to 29 year-olds are the age group most likely to read a book in any format over the last year. Over 80% have done so compared to 73% of 30 to 49 year-olds, and only 70% of 50 to 65 year-olds have read a book in the last year. We are of course talking about the more literate countries but even in the less literate countries like Pakistan the reading overall may be less due to the quality of education and prioritization in less privileged households, but that is due to poor environment rather than an aversion to learn.
The question then is why is this persistent debate of reading losing its luster so prevalent. The answer is that the traditional ways of reading have become less pursued and the modern ways of learning have taken over. The hardcover books and magazines are not necessary but the soft forms of e-books and online articles and news are available. The emphasis is not on reading but learning. The focus is on making learning easy, interesting, mobile and continuous. The intangible has replaced tangible and this lack of physical form where books could be seen, felt and smelled has created a typical generational longing for the tradition to be continued. There are three key changes in learning that have taken place that may have its disadvantages but have definitely created a more knowledgeable world.
• The Software Revolution: Information highway has made information exchange possible at the speed of light. Google and many other search engines are a click away to oceans of knowledge. We all remember the beautiful and expensive hardcover set of Encylopaedia Britannica being sold by TimeInc agents in Pakistan and all over the world. How many people could afford to buy them and then read them and make use of them? Very few. Presently all this knowledge is available at Wikipedia and other forms just a click away for all who have a reasonably smart phone to access. If anything learning has become more equitable and faster. Similarly, dictionaries were mostly thick and impressive books that needed to be paged and searched with care. Presently you need to put a word in and the variety of responses that you receive give you far more knowledge than the traditional page by page laborious search method.
• The Learning Methodologies: Traditional classroom learning with heavy book cramming has always been under criticism. Rote learning was always a burden. Presently at a very young age the students are encouraged to use audio visual techniques to supplement the book. Research shows that if information is just heard, only 10% can be retained after three days. If the same is presented along with an attractive picture the retention goes upto 65% and if it is a good video ie a motion picture combing and hearing and seeing, the retention can spike to 90%. That is why the world of YouTube has transformed learning; that is why you see younger and younger children becoming inventors, certified Microsoft professionals and competing in global competitions they could not have dreamt earlier.
• The Customization of Information: What I like to read, you may not. The standard reading material may not be attractive for all. The smartphone generation is smart because they have customized their own content, style and timing of learning. If you want people to learn let them start with their area of interest. Everybody is not crazy about Grey's Anatomy. He or she may like music or cricket so let them read stuff of their interest. If reading is heavy or they are short of time buy an audio CD or podcast audio version that they can click while travelling or work intervals. This will initiate the habit of reading and they will eventually learn much more.
Change is the only permanent thing in life. The focus is now not on just information but on knowledge; not just data but analysis; not just research but strategy; and not just reading but learning; and consequently, not only to cram and reproduce but to disrupt, create, reinvent with self-initiated planned obsolescence. As Alvin Tofler rightly said, "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
(The writer can be reached at [email protected])