I would have to disagree with this quote. "Wide reading," by which I take it Aristippus meant a wide range of different reading materials, makes for a well-rounded intellect. Intense focus on specific books is useful if you are seeking to learn a particular skill or subject, but it tends to narrow the intellect, not broaden it. A person can be intensely educated in one field, such as biology for example, but be next to an idiot in most other subjects. There is too much specialization in modern society, not enough generalization. My advice is to read regularly, frequently, and over a wide range of subject matter. If you have to specialize and narrow your focus for business or other reasons, do so, but don't make a virtue of it, because it isn't a virtue.
I would have to disagree with this quote. "Wide reading," by which I take it Aristippus meant a wide range of different reading materials, makes for a well-rounded intellect. Intense focus on specific books is useful if you are seeking to learn a particular skill or subject, but it tends to narrow the intellect, not broaden it. A person can be intensely educated in one field, such as biology for example, but be next to an idiot in most other subjects. There is too much specialization in modern society, not enough generalization. My advice is to read regularly, frequently, and over a wide range of subject matter. If you have to specialize and narrow your focus for business or other reasons, do so, but don't make a virtue of it, because it isn't a virtue.
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