Comments on: The Reading Habit

By: Greeley's Ghost

Greeley's Ghost — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Cary, great point. I remember asking another CEO what he reads (thinking maybe he read a certain trade pub and probably read the Wall Street Journal and certainly read the Economist).
He didn’t read any of them regularly. He read history.
Reading novels perhaps gives us insight into humanity such that we can transfer it into our business relationships.
Hope you’re still have a great time in the Middle Kingdom, Cary!

By: Cary Ussery

Cary Ussery — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Perhaps we are not reading the right things. I have always thought you can learn more about what going on in the world reading fiction, especially new novels. There is an undercurrent in culture and thought that gets lost in reading about the “current” thing. But perhaps I am just a liberal arts holdout.

Certainly I am no expert on the media like you guys. It is interesting to be in China and see the different take on world news between different countries and different cultures.

By: Loring Wirbel

Loring Wirbel — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Nice commentary in your blog, Dean. In answer to your question, the very fact that there are fewer pages in print, faster turnaround online, and smaller staff to do the work, inevitably means a dip in quality, except for the obvious stalwarts like NYT, WSJ, Economist – but how long can the elite few survive?

By: KoiFish

KoiFish — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:43:00 +0000

I, alas, watch more TV than I should. Good news for you guys, you aren’t missing very much.

But, since Brian and Loring seem to be major consumers (and producers) of written media content, do you think the quality of reporting by the mainstream media has declined? Do you think they’ve become less objective?

I think the answer to both questions is yes. If only all media could be cut from the same cloth as the ladies and gents that have written for EE Times, I think the world would be a better place (and, yes, I’m being serious here).

Loring is right — the best answer is to become the media.

BTW, the three of you might want to check out my latest blog post entitled “Freedom Isn’t Free, But is Mainstream Media Content Worth Paying For?

It touches on many of these topics. http://tinyurl.com/ct6ewn

By: Loring Wirbel

Loring Wirbel — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Watching MSM for a clue as to how the media should be is like watching the Grammies for a clue as to what the best music of the year is.

By: Greeley's Ghost

Greeley's Ghost — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Ummmmm, need I remind you guys that we aren’t necessarily the target audience? I think the three of us are probably NOT the target TV audience and never have been. So of course we’re reading.
Brian’s point is well taken: the MSM has stepped on its you-know-what for decades. They’re as myopic as some religions in that respect.

By: Loring Wirbel

Loring Wirbel — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Then DIY. Be the media.

By: wretch

wretch — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:41:00 +0000

It would take more time than I’m willing to devote to remind you of the list of failures of the mainstream media over the last several decades, and I suspect you could generate the list yourself. The MSM hasn’t been in any position to help for years, aside from providing a forum for Sydney Blumenthals and Dexter Filkinses, etc.,

By: Loring Wirbel

Loring Wirbel — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:48:00 +0000

aaahhh, friggin softies. I read one magazine, two chapters of fiction, two chapters of nonfiction a day, along with work, working out, listening to music, watching only the minimum TV necessary, blogging and trolling online, but not wasting hours with pointless activity like video games or tweeting. This level of multitasking is easily possible by concentrating on staying Renaissance-style, removing redundancy, and not wasting time on crap and empty-headedness. Piece of friggin’ cake. As you have pointed out, part of the problem is whining entitlement-generation types who don’t try to be Nietzschean. No sympathy. Curmudgeon has grumbled.