Information is like food. You are what you consume. You will never rise above the level of your inputs.
In an age of unprecedented abundance, the most important skill to have narrows from finding any source, to finding quality sources.
Just like we wouldn’t expect elite athletes to regularly feast on cupcakes and beer and perform well, we can’t expect to rely on breaking news headlines and listicles to shape an accurate understanding of the world around us. The standards you hold yourself to predict and affect the trajectory of your life. Information exists to help us become more intelligent and improve ourselves and our communities. Like any person in pursuit of improvement, we must develop discipline and remain focused on our goal – to think better and ultimately live well.
What does a good “information diet” look like?
We aren’t asking which source is “better,” but which sources will provide more long-term benefit, such as a nuanced understanding of the conversation and underlying issues? Which sources are going to provide the most “nutrient dense” information? The answer is long-form content; the books, articles, videos, and other documents which can’t be read in a few minutes. Places like books, documentaries, encyclopedias – depending on how recent the topic is – and even long-form YouTube videos all provide detailed and verified information for you to understand the issue, the different arguments around the issue, what is currently being done, and solutions to look toward in the future.
As I wrote in my series on how to use the Internet for research, Wikipedia is a great place to start, because they include both summaries and links to primary sources and other quality websites or resources.
How do I best use this information?
Quality does not depend on whether you agree with the stance of the author. Quality is an assessment of how the information was compiled and presented. It’s entirely possible – highly probable, in fact – that you will disagree with the findings or arguments contained in a high quality book, lecture, film, podcast, etc. Quality and agreement are two separate factors.
Just as with food, we prioritize the most nutrient-dense sources we can find, so we will locate and use quality information. Good inputs allow for good output, paving the way for better outcomes. Quality information is verifiable, reliable, evidence-based, and applies to or affects many people in a demonstrable way. Quality information cites other quality sources and quality authors show their work in the form of references and indexes. It’s analytical and looks at information which both supports and opposes its arguments. It offers historical context, allowing for a more complete understanding of the topic in question, and it often offers solutions to those topics. Quality information is helpful, thoughtful, and encourages deep thinking.
Conversely, most information circulating online, like most readily available fast-food, is junk information. By “junk” I mean content which is emotionally driven, lacking context, false, unverifiable, or unreliable. Junk information relies on splashy headlines and forms patterns of compulsive consumption. It encourages emotional responses and catastrophic thinking, and discourages reflection or thought, often prioritizing an action you must take “right now!” Examples include breaking news notifications, celebrity headlines, “this one weird trick,” and political campaign spots.
Now that we know what to look for, what are the best ways of consuming quality information?
Different mediums allow for and encourage different ways of learning. If you are looking to dip your toes into new ideas or learn about a new figure, the best route is often through a podcast or video. You’re able to get a feel for their ideas and perspective in a quick, but fair way. These detailed and thorough looks at a body of work are like a “greatest hits” album; you get to experience the artist’s work without listening to the entire catalog.
When you’re ready to explore an idea, look for print sources. Reading inspires thinking, where visual and speech-based learning* encourage more emotional responses. Literature provides a detailed view of the problem and offers a solution. If you want to learn about a topic deeply, your best option is to read a book and take notes. Even better, read several books or essays examining the topic from different perspectives and work to understand those diverse conclusions. Read authors you agree with and authors you don’t agree with. Our minds are meant to be challenged. Read, write about your reading, and think about your conclusions.
You’ll notice that I am recommending different kinds of media for different kinds of learning: voice-based media is more emotional, which is fine on its own, but again, not the kind of building block material we want to use as a foundation. Voice-based learning is great for introductions to an idea; the stripped down written page is more conducive to deep thinking and reflection. Also, I am not recommending anything short-form. A good rule of thumb is making sure your quality reading, videos, etc. are over the ten minute mark, ideally twenty minutes or more. Again, no important topic of is going to be covered with any depth or context in a 300-word snippet. Give complex issues the time, thought, and respect they deserve and spend some time researching and thinking about them.
Giving your time to quality information, rather than junk information gives you a clearer, more developed framework for understanding the world around you. It also brings less clutter into your mind, and gives you interesting ideas to reflect on and explore. A by-product of this time spent on quality is focus; the ability to think on a specific topic for a sustained amount of time. Focusing on quality inputs is an antidote to today’s problem of constant distraction.
I firmly believe the only way society improves is by individuals holding themselves to a higher standard, including taking the time to educate themselves on what it means to be a good citizen, to live well, and to build a solid foundation for those things. Education is a lifelong opportunity and responsibility, up to each one of us to maintain. Locate and use high quality information as part of your daily information routine, and see watch your thoughts, emotions, and outlook improve.
*Footnote: The tendency for audio-books is to have them play while we do something else, which means you’re not generally concentrating solely on listening to the book. Reading is still the superior method of learning, in this context.
