“Reading after a certain age diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking, just as the man who spends too much time in the theatre is tempted to be content with living vicariously instead of living his own life.” Albert Einstein
I don’t believe for one moment that Albert Einstein was suggesting we read less. Surely he was just warning us to use our brains more?
Nowadays, suggesting that someone read less is akin to suggesting they eat more sweets…but then if you’ve ever followed Julia Cameron’s The Artists Way you’ll know that there is true creative power in a reading fast. Basically you stop reading for 7 days. Everything. You can’t even read the cereal box at breakfast.
I did this twice years ago but who could do it now? I worked for myself making Australian made arty bits to sell to tourists (future landfill) and I could easily get away with reading nothing for a week. But now…
Boredom is essential for the writer; it’s the only time they get to write.
Arthur Less ~ Less, by Andrew Sean Greer p204
I haven’t had a moment of boredom in years! I’m always listening to something or watching something or reading something. I’m afraid of boredom; I don’t have time to do nothing…Too much on the to-do list…
If you want a result you’ve never had you need action you’ve never taken.
I finished reading Less and it was a revelation. I highly recommend it.
Anyone else done a reading fast? Anyone worked through Cameron’s book?
Feature Photo by Alfons Taekema on Unsplash