> I've noticed that it makes it difficult to switch back to information-dense reading, and to actually read all of it instead of reflexively skimming it to try

> I've noticed that it makes it difficult to switch back to information-dense reading, and to actually read all of it instead of reflexively skimming it to try and glean out the seed. Keeping on the religious theme I've noticed this with the Psalms, even before considering the GPT stuff. I think I grew up taught to be over-dismissive of many types of poetry. I always had an impression that it was mostly just silly space-filling pseduo-deep reused imagery and repetition. School didn't help dissuade me of this. For me, I think the thing to overcome is to focus on the value of a sense of respect for the author and the work unto itself, rather than just valuing the "understanding" you get from the text (which will always be shaped by preconceptions). A sense of awe (maybe at divine inspiration, maybe at near-divine genius, or maybe just at the sacrifice of time and life-force an ordinary person gave up to create something). For the example of the Psalms, I have noticed that despite finding the language clunky at first, they have a certain way of sticking in your head that prose does not. A strategy I've been focusing on recently is giving myself permission to reread (and maybe memorize) important/enjoyable works. Reading something twice is basically the opposite of skimming, or a way to counteract skimming. There probably is such a thing as rereading something more than it deserves (I reread Calvin and Hobbes for the zillionth time recently, which I still deeply enjoy but now it's more of a way to relax my mind before bed than a source of insight) but there are certainly works that do deserve it [1]. Anyway, something I've been thinking about a lot as well and I agree that it's fascinating to consider how fundamental is it to the human condition that monks have been struggling with it for millennia. The book recommendation is appreciated. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0OY1RDe8Yg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0OY1RDe8Yg