In a day and age where the Average American can't find Iraq on a map, and when a large percentage of Americans don't even know who the vice president is, a survey recently showed that one in four Americans read no books last year, and of those who did, it was mostly fiction:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821...its_ap_poll;_ylt=AqbTbex122wgr1W63YuYmLKs0NUE People often wonder why Americans today have become so fat and dumb. This is one of the reasons. It is a FACT that reading increases your IQ and overall knowledge. Many of the books I've read in the last few years have changed my life and made it better. While books may not be popular for Americans as a whole, for me personally, reading is becoming more attractive. I especially like non-fiction books, for I can learn more about the world in which I live. Also, since many Americans don't read, this is good news for us who do, since we will have what is called "information asymmetry." In dealings with most people, we will have an edge in knowledge, and therefore power over those we interact with. Knowledge = power. Books are repositories of knowledge. Those who read, especially non-fiction books, will always have power over those who don't, and they will be smarter and more intelligent. So, what books have you guys read? Do you fall under the same category as the typical American? Here are the books I've read in the last month, even though I'm busy building my online business: 1. Confessions of an Economic Hitman 2. Freakonomics 3. Codex Magica 4. Black Holes, Wormholes, and Time Machines( I'm 154 pages into this one halfway done) 5. The 48 laws of Power(finished this one earlier this year) 6. Think and Grow Rich( finished this one within the last year) 7. The Hedonist(Single Male Exotic Vacation Guide)
Who has time for books when there are blogs to read and forums to post in?? Books are no longer the best place to go to gain knowledge. By the time a book gets written and published, it's outdated. The internet is a better place for learning about the world we live in.
Its funny you say that, saw this the other day on youtube, and this is really scary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI8rtfB3_kk
Those videos drive me nuts. They don't show all the people that are giving correct answers. I could go to any country in the world and find 20 people who didn't know something about the USA and make a video of it and say that all of the people in that country were stupid. It's not a scientific survey, it's entertainment!
Are you kidding me? You think a forum or blog is better than a book? Umm, I haven't learned much since I became a member of Digital Point. Most of the important things I've learned in my life came from books. I love the Internet, don't get me wrong, but it has its limitations. First off, much of the stuff on the Internet has no credibility. You don't know who wrote it, and you don't know if its accurate. Second, the most valuable information is never freely given away. If you are looking for certain types of information, the only way you will get is to pay for it. You will not find it for free online. Only an idiot would give away valuable information related to their business or something of crucial importance. That is why affiliate sites usually give you a little bit of free info, but make you pay for the most important stuff...... Also, there is only so much information you can put on a website or blog. Blogs are comprised of peoples opinions, which may not be based on facts. You haven't done your research. Surveys have been taken of where Americans don't know basic facts. Those videos are not just entertainment. I asked my brother to name the capital of China, and he said Bangkok! I asked my roommate, who has a Bachelor's degree, the year 911 happened, and he said 2002! This goes along with the surveys taken of the typical American, and the new about Americans not reading makes since.
Thx for the complement! Jack Bauer owns all. But seriously, the Internet is limited. I have my own online business, and after all the work I went through to make money, do you actually think I would build a website and tell you step by step how to do it? Do you think anyone here at Digital Point, who is making $10,000 per month in Adsense, will give you a free book on how they did it? LOL, I wouldn't hold my breath. There are certain things that you will only find in a book. And those who read, will have power over those who don't. Let me give you guys an example. Next year, I'm going to move away from the city I'm currently living in. I don't yet know where I want to move. But I just ordered a book the other day called Prudent Places USA. This book gives you statistical information on the U.S. This books tells you: 1. The places with the lowest crime. 2. Where the good jobs are going. 3. Where people are migrating to. 4. Which states have the lowest cost of living 5. Where are the nuclear power plants are located 6. Which states have the cleanest Air. 7. Where all the toxic waste dumps are. 8. Which cities and states have the most fresh underground water. 9. Natural disaster information for each state. These are just a few of the things I will learn once I get Prudent Places USA. I paid $34 bucks for this book, but you know what? I'm happy about it, because I will have detailed information that few Americans have, and I will move to the best possible place. You can't find all this information online, and even if you could, it would take you years of research to pull all this information from different sources. So the Internet will not make books obsolete. The Internet will complement books and reading.
Did you watch all the seasons ? I'm still on the fifth Jack is in the plane to get that record Is the sixth season better ?
I'm surprised that many read at all. Though i expect the ones who claimed to have read a book only read 2 chapters of harry potter before giving up and renting the movie instead.
The same can be said for books. You don't know if that information is accurate. And books are also just peoples opinions. There are lots of stupid people and lots of smart people in every country.
I've seen every season. Season Six is good, but I still think Season Five is better. Yeah, the survey said most of the Americans who do read only read fictional books like Harry Potter. Fiction is ok, but non-fiction books can save your life, give you power, and make you rich. Seriously, if you read the books I listed in my first post on this thread, you will have the keys to becoming successful in life, and you can't find that information on a website, forum or blog. The 48 Laws of Power is an Elite books that teaches you how to gain power. It is in my opinion one of the greatest books ever written, and surpasses the likes of even Machiavelli's The Prince. If you follow the rules in the 48 Laws of Power, nothing can stop you. The Hedonist books shows you how to take exotic vacations to foreign countries without breaking the bank. It shows you the best spots, and it also shows you how to get exotic foreign women(escorts). It is also a real deal book. Think and Grow Rich is perhaps the most powerful. The only thing I will say about that book is that it shows you the secret of success, and if you follow it, nothing can stop you. Books have to go through a publisher. The Publisher has to approve the book. If you are writing about an academic subject, your book won't get published if you have no credibility. There is no such safeguard on the Internet, period. Based on your comments, I can tell that you yourself don't read. You want to know why? Because you said that "there are lots of stupid people and lots of smart people in every country." Now, if you actually read about IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, you should know that the average American has an IQ of about 100, which is average, Only a small percentage of the population has above average intelligence, and only about 1% can be classified as geniuses. In the same light, people who are defined as "retarded" also make up only a small percentage of the population. Most people only have average intelligence. BUT, if you read the books I've read, you would know that intelligence can be increased, because the brain is like a muscle. Reading is one of the things that does it. Your comment about there being lots of smart and dumb people in every country is not backed up by anything I've ever read. Actually, its just the opposite. There is only a small amount of really smart and "dumb" people in every country. I actually feel compassion for the people who are defined as mentally retarded, and I wished there was some technology that could restore them so that they could reach their true potential. This is what scientists should work towards, but it requires an advanced understanding of the human brain. I also want to say that I have a great deal of respect for the Internet. I like the fact that webmaster can self publish without having to go through a publisher, and the Internet is a great place to find information. However, to say that the Internet can replace books is going overboard. Because there is only so much you can find online.
I would much rather read a book than watch a movie or TV. I do read a lot of fiction but also a lot of non-fiction especially history.
Knowledge = power But it is what you do with it which ultimately matters! I stopped reading books after high school. Come to think of it, I didn't read much of anything during high school
If you don't even have the knowledge, how are you going to do anything with it? This current "mortgage crisis" is a good example of how dumb many Americans are. Now, I READ about those Adjustable Rate Mortgage, and I knew they were a scam. This was a couple of years ago. I knew that anyone who signs up for such a mortgage is setting themselves up to lose a house. Well, look what happened.... Anyone who thinks they are informed by reading information only from the Internet is a naive fool. I read both books and Internet articles, and the books still win hands down.
Of course, any joe blow can publish a website, authors publishing books are experts in their field which can't be said about some content websites which are outsourced for $5 an article. Will this effect the credibility of the internet in the long run?
Same average in every country, not only american. We are all like that. I'm sure I can ask you 10 ramdom questions and you give me 0 correct answer. And vice versa...
Never read a book? god I'm a book hound. I live in second hand book stores I buy and sell books by the kilo. I love reading. Its where I can escape into my own world without having the bright glare of a computer screen in front of me. Books Rule!