In today's fast-paced world, the ability to read and consume information has become increasingly valuable. Reading allows us to step into someone else's shoes, to think another's thoughts, and to expand our own perspectives. However, with the rise of technology and the constant bombardment of information, our attention spans have shortened, making it difficult to sit quietly and focus for sustained periods of time.

Hatched by Glasp
Aug 22, 2023
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In today's fast-paced world, the ability to read and consume information has become increasingly valuable. Reading allows us to step into someone else's shoes, to think another's thoughts, and to expand our own perspectives. However, with the rise of technology and the constant bombardment of information, our attention spans have shortened, making it difficult to sit quietly and focus for sustained periods of time.
One study conducted by Google found that increasing the number of search results per page from 10 to 30 only took half a second longer, but resulted in a 20% drop-off in users. This highlights the scarcity and value of our ability to direct focused attention. It's no wonder then, that the concept of "read it later" apps has gained popularity.
Read it later apps, such as Pocket, Evernote, and Task Manager, provide a solution to the overwhelming amount of information we encounter on a daily basis. These apps allow us to save articles, blog posts, and other long-form content for later consumption. By doing so, we can create a pool of options drawn from a longer time period, allowing us to make decisions about what to read from a higher perspective.
One of the biggest challenges in consuming long-form content is the risk of cognitive dissonance. The fear of not being able to finish a lengthy article or book often prevents us from even starting it. However, with read it later apps, we can overcome this barrier. By saving articles for later, we can approach them with a sense of calm and focus, knowing that we have set aside dedicated time to fully engage with the content.
Not only do read it later apps help us increase our consumption of long-form content, but they also aid in better filtering. With the abundance of information available today, it can be challenging to find content that is truly substantive and valuable. By utilizing read it later apps, we can curate a collection of articles and posts that align with our interests and priorities. This allows us to cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters to us.
In addition to increasing our consumption of valuable content and providing better filtering options, read it later apps also have the potential to enhance our learning process. By saving articles and highlighting key passages, we can easily access and review the most important information. This allows us to assimilate and build on the ideas of others, learning from their experiences and incorporating their insights in a fraction of the time it would take us to make the same mistakes ourselves.
Ideas are powerful agents of change, and they become even more potent when arranged in highly cross-referenced networks. Our brains are the only tools capable of creating and accessing these networks on demand. Read it later apps serve as a gateway to this network of ideas, allowing us to discover and connect concepts from various sources.
To fully harness the power of read it later apps, here are three actionable pieces of advice:
- 1. Create a habit of saving articles and long-form content for later. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to go through your saved articles and engage with the content fully. By doing this, you can ensure that you are consistently exposing yourself to new ideas and perspectives.
- 2. Use the highlighting feature in read it later apps to capture key passages and insights. This will allow you to easily review and retain the most important information. Consider exporting these highlights to a note-taking app like Evernote for better organization and accessibility.
- 3. Embrace the network effect of ideas. Don't limit yourself to consuming content in isolation. Instead, actively seek out connections between different articles, books, and sources. Look for patterns, common themes, and divergent perspectives. By doing so, you can enhance your understanding and make more informed decisions.
In conclusion, read it later apps have the power to transform the way we consume and engage with long-form content. They enable us to overcome the barriers of cognitive dissonance and information overload, while also providing opportunities for better filtering and accelerated learning. By incorporating these apps into our daily routines and utilizing them effectively, we can tap into the immense potential of ideas and expand our own knowledge and perspective.
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