“Now, they probably read the equivalent of hundreds of pages every day online and in the course of their duties ...”
I’m one of those tech people that doesn’t read books outside of my realm (we can certainly debate the intelligent part :-) ).
I used to love reading when I was a kid. Once I hit high school, I started to hate it. I never understood why I couldn’t read something by Issac Asimov for credit, but was forced to read books by John Steinbeck which I found ridiculously lame (got thrown out of class for calling “The Grapes of Wrath” “Welfare Wagons West” :-) ... also was forced to read “Of Mice and Men” which was a total bore).
When I was forced to take a few literature-centric humanities classes in college, I wanted to jump off a building. I did well, but the books were, again, horrible and the class discussions made my ears bleed.
I don’t think I’ve read a single work of fiction since college ... part of the reason is that I get terribly burnt out reading about stuff that I apply and earn a living :-).
I am a bit ashamed that I haven’t even looked at classical literature in over 20 years seeing that I’m typically pegged as the “intellectual” type (though that’s devolved into cynicism anymore). I might have to give it a shot and see if a few years of life experience will lead to an appreciation for works I’ve completely ignored.
I’m in the same boat. Read voraciously to gather information, but almost never crack a book or read for entertainment - unless FR counts.
I do watch movies occasionally...
I have a BS in Bus Ad. I too hated most of the classic lit. The worst one that I can remember was about an ice floe. Can’t even remember the name of it. Hubby had to explain it to me and when he was done I said.....stupid. Lol
I got my masters in Business much later and didn’t have to read a book there. Thought I should clarify. Lol
Being forced to read the books offered in high school literature classes was pure torture. I was eventually booted out of senior English because I finally had enough and refused to read any more of their mind numbing crap. Not that I’m still bitter about being put through that a zillion years later or anything....
“for calling “The Grapes of Wrath” “Welfare Wagons West” :-)” hahahahahahahahaha!
You are not what is wrong with America, my friend(hoo hee! I could just imagine the instructor’s face when you blasphemed one of the “blessed texts” of Liberalism!)
For a cynic such as yourself, if you want more “culture”, you can start with Machiavelli’s “The Prince”!
In the 70's, when I went to high school in a College town, where we were victims of all kinds of 'progressive' ideas, we COULD read SciFi (including Asimov) for class credit, bu never read ANY classics. AP English required Shakespeare, so my English teacher said " It's required, so I chose the shortest Shakespeare play, and we'll cover it in one class. If anyone wants to read it all, you'll have plenty of time over the summer".
I WISH we had read more actual classics (not depression era Progressive 'classics'), and have gone on to read some of them as an adult. To see how people are people, with the same feelings and approaches since the beginning of history, reading the classics across a smattering of time periods REALLY does that. Now I see what the progressives, who really want us to believe in the perfectibility of man, didn't want us to know!