Four quadrants of the balanced reading habit.

Four quadrants of the balanced reading habit.

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It is unsolicited advice to all who are interested in reading books or magazines. Though I know for sure that this habit of an individual is fast declining to become dead in future.

 Thanks to computers and the internet in general and social media in particular that has nearly replaced books and magazines. Though I myself have become a prey to these social media temptations.

Even AH Wheeler stalls at railway stations now have shelves filled more with snacks, water bottles and cold drinks than books or magazines. 

However if one still considers oneself to be a good reader one must refine the habit of reading. Quality of work life (QWL) and quality of life (QoL); both improve by such refinement in our reading habits.

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We know that we all have to do something to earn. This is necessary to support our livelihood. For that matter we may either be in service or business or working in factories. Yet some of us may be self-employed in more ways than one. 

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It is in this perspective that we need to distribute our reading habits into four quadrants.

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1.First,we must be concerned with reading those books/materials that can make us updated in the field we work in.This will add to our professional competence.

2.But limiting our reading to matters of a professional area makes us blinkered.

Hence apart from that which is related to our sphere of profession we must find time to read such things that also refine our engagement we pursue as a matter of hobby.

3.The third quadrant of the reading circle should aim at making one an informed citizen of the country. Reading newspapers caters to this need.

4.The circle of reading will never become full unless we have time to read such books that may not only enable us to understand our true 'self' but also the 'world' by knowing the 'self'. 

         This reading will fulfill our higher order need which AH Maslow called the "need of self-actualisation".

      

 Mere "Physics" fails to give a feeling of fulfillment. While keeping our feet on "physics" we should try to reach out to "Metaphysics. This will help get rid of our frailty that we accumulate while being engrossed in worldly affairs.

     The more capable we become to deal with our frailty the more fulfilling our life becomes.

       Therefore,we must read books about the religion we profess. All religions have books to guide their followers and in every such book of every religion a lot of good things are there to follow apart from that which may militate the current value or belief system.

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PS

But here is a caution. The caution is that such reading should be with a view to sift grain out of chaff rather than remain engrossed in eating only chaff leaving grains in the book itself. If we read religious texts with a view to find fault with them,we only end up being reactionary. Instead of cleansing the minds of others, our own mind gets deluded. It only harms us in the long run. In that case it is better not to read these books.

I say this because people, in order to look progressive and rational,habitually pick up some controversial or derogatory excerpts, shlokas or verse from the book only to start and enjoy making fun of the whole text under the garb of "educating" or 'awakening' those who they wrongly presume to be less informed.

I hope I am able to say what I intend to. 

                                 

                                                  R.R.Prabhakar

                                                     30.11.2022.