Here's how much time a single American spends on social media and TV in a year:
608 hours on social media
1642 hours on TV
Wow. That's 2250 hours a year spent on TRASH. If those hours were spent reading instead, you could be reading over 1,000 books a year!
The numbers are compelling. Arguably, even if one reads within one's own bubble they will be exposed to thoughts and ideas outside of their preconceived notions simply because no one is 100% dogmatic in exactly the same way.
The impetus for the article is this quote from Warren Buffet, very much de rigueur:
Read 500 pages like this every day. That's how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will…
I'm on board. While it may seem obvious I will say it anyway: You don't have to read. Audio books are just as good though harder to underline meaningful passages.
My path and recommendation to you, Dear Reader, is a bit different: Reduce the number of books per year but add in reading the capital-N News daily.
I subscribe to and read the New York Times, the Washington Post (JP), the Japan Times (with which I get the New York Times), and the Guardian (JP Weekly). I also read the Atlantic Monthly (JP) and am thinking about picking up the Economist again, which I used to always look forward to reading each week. Yes, I am that cool.
My big change is moving my news consumption to the evening once I arrive home. I find I get too wound up/depressed/angry when I read the News in the morning, thus ruining my day. Tech news, security news, and bits I need for work I read anytime.
Also I make use of podcasts: NPR hourly news update & Up First, NHK English news, the various APM Marketplaces, The CyberWire, the SANS Internet Storm Center Stormcast, The Daily from the New York Times, and the BBC World Service Newshour. I play these at 1.5 speed or faster with the two security podcasts, NPR hourly update, and the NHK news at the top. I start playing it as I leave the office. By the time home and finished with dinner the podcasts have updated me nicely.