This picture has nothing to do with the post and everything with me not wanting to buy another stock photo.
I read somewhere that people on average are reading less than 19 minutes a day. (The article, I lament, took me a little longer than 19 minutes to get through, so I couldn’t quite tell what that says about my relationship to the status quo. Am I above average, or just a slow reader?) This means people aren’t reading as much. It’s a depressing signal.
But apparently video is up. Because why wouldn’t it be? I feel anything that isn’t as active an engagement of the cerebellum is going to have more initial appeal. You don’t actually have to do anything, watching a video. You can just sit there, you know, pancakes falling out of your mouth, etc. Whereas reading is work.
And I say it’s a depressing signal because I feel reading is the way to go. Often reading forces you to reach. It causes you to grab hold of new cliffs of understanding that may have been too steep the day before. And I don’t see this happening as much with video; I’m sorry, but I don’t. If anything, video is making people dumber, especially with all the sort of hoity-toity, “oh hey, here’s a motivational lollipop” crap you see on social media. Most of it is hollow and points nowhere.
Now, I don’t know if you particularly like my long posts or what. But I promised when I started this foray into fitness that I wouldn’t be the guy who all he does is pander to his audience. I can’t do that. And mostly because it isn’t me. My hope is to challenge you and to cause you to think, because I don’t feel I need to write down to anyone. I think people are smarter than they look. I think, with just a little bit of time, anybody can “get it.”
Or maybe I’m just stuck in my ways? Maybe I’m just crotchety and ignorant and unwilling to change, like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino? That ever-cantankerous Walt Korowski, or whatever his name was? Well, all of this, I have to admit, is very possible and probably true. But even if it is, so what? I like the people I appeal to.
(That’s you.)
– Pat
PS – Leave a comment and let me know if you’re still reading. And if so, what?
Still reading …still loving! Your tactical tips on Friday are the BEST. I love the little things that you mentioned about what you’re reading, and drinking and eating
I’m reading.
Looking for ideas that might help those over 70 years old
that work out.
Well I’m still reading, so there’s that. I agree that watching sometimes feels passive. I do like watching to see how certain moves and workouts go. I like what you’re doing. Thank you!
I’m still reading. I need to get moving in the right direction.
Hi Pat, yes im still reading and i like very much all of yor stuff, I still struggle with some moves but I think it’s because I’ve been training for the last 20 years with bars and dumbbells and I’m my workouts was very basics in movements, but I’m still firm, thanks for your interest.
I just finished Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden. I’m now reading be Obsessed or be average by Grant Cardone.
I read…not as much as I’d like to…mystics and yoga masters from the past. They used to go around giving talks and then their talks were edited into books.
Currently reading The Mysticism and Sound of Music by Hazrat Inayat Khan.
Check out this quote from it:
Man’s desire to search for something traditional, for something original, and man’s desire for something new-all these tendencies can be satisfied in the knowledge of truth.
I like old stuff to read because I think so many author’s today are just trying to find a catch phrase to sell books or their platform. Maybe I’m jaded…but Truth was written about from the beginning, so I like stuff that has stood the test of time.
I also like fitness books.
So, I’m a walking contradiction in regards to my reading preferences.
And then there’s Peppa the Pig before my kids go to sleep.
Does that count?
Hello Pat, it seems that a lot of what I read is spurred on by you. When I read your emails or postings the motivation drives me to wanting to learn more. I have read a lot on the nutritional terms used like intermittent fasting and keto.
Also I am 60 and getting ready to enter my last phase of life, retirement. I am nervous, scared, and thrilled all at the same time. I have been reading a lot about that too. A lot to think about.
Keep up the good work.
Searched for a top 100 list of classic books and recently finished Catcher in the Rye and just started Moby Dick. I have a ways to go and I do plan on rereading some; I am not certain my 15 year old brain was cognizant of what 1984 was sharing.
Still read, prefer to read, read this. Not sure show long it took because I got a call during it. To me reading has many advantages, at least I think so. Easier to revisit, easier to focus on specifics and parts that matter to you most.
While you skills are obviously vast, your writing stands out from the crowd and the “noise”. I do see video as a supplement (as it were) especially when using more than one person talking or using “live” with interaction or Q&A. I does seem to be a must do no for visibility on the web, oh well.
It is also quite obvious I need to read more, as evidenced by the large pile of books in my office. Maybe I just read slowly as well…
Might be you are just “older” than your age…I’m already there.
Get off my lawn!
I’m not convinced that video is a “must do”, but with the way social media is these days, it’s an easier way to grab attention than writing is. That said, just grabbing attention for the sake of more likes/shares/etc, is not the way to success. In almost all cases you’d be better off having more specific and compelling appeal to a limited audience, than getting passed around like a beach ball at rock concert among thousands upon thousands of people, only to be left behind once the show is over, forgotten and deflated. Great points, Frank.
Love reading more than ever but have switched to mostly fiction. Escapism in these crazy times. Hardly watch TV either
Thank you for your posts. I enjoy them. Personally I love reading & am following your posts. Often will take your workouts & will do them as a one off. Currently I am reading Logan Christopher’s book on Bodyweufht Squats & Pistol Squats. I’ve just finished reading “Whatever the Cost” by the Benham brothers.
Thank you, Alison : )
Some books require slow reading (at least for me) for maximum absorption. My current book is “The Obstacle is the Way”, by Ryan Holiday. When obstacles seem overwhelming, a person can turn this negative situation into something useful, even positive.
Ah, and how true it is. Some books took me, I’d say, five years or longer until I finally “got them.” How to Read a Book is one of those books.
Yep, still a reader; big fan of RSS feeds from financial and various fitness blogs. Reading Dan John’s and Pavel’s Easy Strength and catching up with many of Dan’s articles especially pertaining to his ’40 days’ training routines. Reread Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ – best SyFy classic.
Currently reading “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holliday and “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” by Carl Sagan. It is his attempt to explain the scientific method and the benefits of critical and skeptical thinking. The book was written in 1995 and Sagan laments the lack of critical thinking in the media and lay press…wow…I wonder what he thinks of the internet and the current state of affairs with regards to the gullible nature of the average American…
Highly recommend it!
That’s for the recco John. Everyone seems to be reading Holiday and I have to admit, I just haven’t gotten around to any of this stuff.
Currently reading Dan John and Robb Wolf’s new books!
Yes I’m still reading (!!!) Reading is fundamental. If you’re reading fundamental material of course:)
I have been reading books on historical politics the last few months. Just started reading Roger Stone’s “Nixon’s Secrets”. Really interesting how different historical views are from contemporary mass media “news”.
Oh yeah, completely agree. Can totally turn your perspective around on a lot of people, for better or worse.
Still reading, love your posts.
: )
Pat — I read and watch whatever I can for topics that are important. While on vacation I read the books Hidden Figures and Silence. I am currently working toward an RKC and I appreciated the video you did on the clean. I need for work with that and wonder if you have other tips for dooing a “clean” clean.
Have a look at my latest vlog–or is that the one you’re referring to? If so, let me know where you’re having trouble. Maybe I can sneak something in on my next video.
Reading is my job as I’m a high school English educator. I wish I had more time to read the classics, but much of my time is wrapped up in curriculum and essays. I used to read for pleasure all of the time and now I primarily read fitness related posts and magazines for pleasure. As a mother to an active 7 y/o, it makes it easy to put something down and pick up where I left off when time permits.
I like videos as well so long as they are videos that demonstrate a workout or new move. Videos that detail proper form are also great. In other words, keep posting them!
Strong on, Pat!
Oh, I will. Don’t worry about that. When it comes to teaching, I get that people learn in all kinds of different ways, and that video is no doubt a very useful way of demonstrating this or that little hting. Just, kind of sad that people are veering away from the written word, or so it seems.
Still reading, I always make the time to read your post. Thanks to your “Tactical Tips” I did the Mighty Potato yesterday. On the Kindle I am reading “Natural Born Heroes” by Christopher McDougall and “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance” by Volek and Phinney.
Cool!
Reading both for pleasure and for work. Greg Iles for pleasure and multiple sources (including yours) about body movement and strength. Finally the NYT on-line edition as well as the local St Louis on-line paper.
Still reading… at the moment im reading a book called, Influence The Psychology of Persuasion,
I read all your emails to Pat, which i thoroughly enjoy, great content and fab tips, I learn a lot from you
That’s a really good book, and his most recent (Pre-Suasion) I think is just as good. Thanks for chiming in, Brenda : )
Still reading! I get your emails right about when I get in to the office every morning. Kinda helps get the day started…and sometimes ideas for my lunchtime workouts
Cool, Mel. I mean, I always assume people rush to work just so they open my emails, but, you know, I realize that may not actually be the case..
I read about a 1/3 of your posts, read the one on “pause” button and just read Dr. Spencer’s email on sugar.
I’m about Marty’s age (68) so the kettlebell workouts are not for me. Walking and weight machines are more my style.
glad to have you, Jim.
Some habits I just can’t get out of and ought to, but others like scheduling time every day for a good read is a habit that is here to stay. Right now I’m reading “Silver: My Tale As Written By Me…”. It’s the sequel to “Treasure Island” and a darn good story so far.