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Editorial
January 16, 1941
Marion Progress
Marion, Mcdowell County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
H.G. Wells praises Americans' eagerness to learn but questions if they are too hasty, preferring digests and skimming books for sensational information over thorough study and critical thinking.
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OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
DO WE STARVE OUR MINDS?
H. G. Wells, the British historian, praises the methods of disseminating information in the United States and declares that this country has a population "eager to learn and greedy to know."
After this compliment, Mr. Wells raises the question whether we are not "sometimes a little too hasty to know?" By this he means that, as a people, we do not study thoroughly, preferring to read digests instead of assimilating a book, cover to cover.
There is some point to the observation made by this visiting British author. There is undoubtedly a tendency on the part of most of us, to skim through a book in search for startling, shocking or surprising information instead of soberly seeking to understand the author's argument and then test the conclusions presented by timely thinking on our own part.
H. G. Wells, the British historian, praises the methods of disseminating information in the United States and declares that this country has a population "eager to learn and greedy to know."
After this compliment, Mr. Wells raises the question whether we are not "sometimes a little too hasty to know?" By this he means that, as a people, we do not study thoroughly, preferring to read digests instead of assimilating a book, cover to cover.
There is some point to the observation made by this visiting British author. There is undoubtedly a tendency on the part of most of us, to skim through a book in search for startling, shocking or surprising information instead of soberly seeking to understand the author's argument and then test the conclusions presented by timely thinking on our own part.
What sub-type of article is it?
Education
What keywords are associated?
Reading Habits
Superficial Knowledge
Hasty Learning
H.G. Wells
American Education
What entities or persons were involved?
H. G. Wells
United States Population
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Superficial American Reading And Learning Habits
Stance / Tone
Cautionary And Observational
Key Figures
H. G. Wells
United States Population
Key Arguments
Americans Are Eager To Learn But Hasty In Knowledge Acquisition
Preference For Digests Over Full Book Assimilation
Tendency To Skim For Sensational Information Rather Than Thorough Understanding
Need For Sober Analysis And Personal Critical Thinking