Reading: A Rewarding Choice for a Limitless Life.
A reality check chat with Jonan Katende
According to ChatGPT, there is no definitive evidence pointing to a single individual who originally said, “If you want to hide something from an African, write it in a book.” ChatGPT goes on to suggest that this statement is considered a stereotype that perpetuates negative and unfounded assumptions about Africans and their engagement with literacy and education.
Regardless of what ChatGPT says, we have all most likely heard or encountered this analogy in one way or another, and it inevitably makes me feel bad. However, I am a strong believer in changing this narrative — not to prove anything to anyone but for our own improvement.
In a world full of distractions, choosing to read is an act of rebellion against the mundane. However, in today’s pursuit of a ‘better life,’ rebellion is key to exploring opportunities that position one for a successful experience. This was my motivation to do this piece.
To help me dissect this issue, I had an insightful discussion with my friend, Jonan Katende. Jonan possesses an impressive profile for his age, and I am deeply grateful for his time and the valuable answers he provided. I am confident his insights will inspire many to seek knowledge and pursue self-improvement through reading.
Jonan is a technopreneur and business consultant across the justice, e-commerce, real estate, and health, among other social sectors. He is a business manager at Justice Chatbot Limited and a strategist at several organizations. He is also a board member of the Makerere Innovation Society, a member of the Africa-Berlin Network, Tech2Impact, East African Internet Governance Forum, Common Futures Conversation, Justice Innovators Community, and an ambassador of the World Summit Awards in Salzburg, Austria, among others. He is a fellow of the Grameen Creative Lab Young Challengers Program and the University of Concordia’s District 3. Notably, Jonan is an award winner of the Paschnett German Literature Prize for the Alexander Von Humboldt Climate Change Challenge. Through Uganda Uncovered, he is among the leaders behind the annual travel writing competition and training as well as the Travel writer’s magazine in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board. Read Jonan’s detailed profile here.
Below is our detailed discussion.
Morine:
Jonan, reading is often viewed more as a chore than a choice, especially after years spent in school, where most of us were first introduced to it. This has led to a negative attitude that is carried into our adult lives, resulting in the wisdom contained in books and other written materials remaining locked away from us.
What are your thoughts on the analogy that views reading as a chore carried over from academic settings, and how can one shift their perception of reading from a chore to a rewarding choice?
Jonan:
The view that reading is more like a chore is not unwarranted, given the lengthy years most of us spent largely without a defined purpose and secondly without a choice, where we were literally forced to memorize certain pages and texts for the sole goal of passing exams.
Consequently, this created a limited but also myopic view of reading. So in a society where schooling hasn’t necessarily presented itself as a reasonable reward, coupled with the fact that there are no more exams to pass, to many, reading is thus unsurprisingly a very unmissed nuisance of school times.
This is not to say that several others have cultivated a reading culture and even benefited from the same schooling system. They exist, though the hole is too deep for them to be relied on as success models.
However, reading was never meant to be a chore. For how can something so utterly freeing be treated as though it were punishment? In my honest opinion, for most of us, our reading habits were formed at a very tender age by both our parents and teachers, treating reading as a punishment meant to embarrass rowdy students who couldn’t read rather than a fun activity meant to be enjoyed by the whole class. Maybe a shift of focus by the education system from a punishment-based system to a rewards-based model would be a decent start in breeding a reading culture that has almost died out completely in the nation.
On the individual side, we must develop the habit of reading. When they call it a reading culture, it stands true that habits have evolved through customs and then finally to cultures. So, to say that reading is hard is probably an understatement. This doesn’t mean that it cannot become easy. But for most, it doesn’t start easily. It starts as a duty before it becomes a beautiful and sweet longing.
As you stated, it could start like an act of rebellion filled with a lot of self-doubt. But afterward, it reveals rare gems and hidden treasures. Diamonds don’t float by the surface. They are mined by zealous individuals who know their worth.
Morine:
For someone out there thinking … but is reading that important, or is this a hype? What has been your experience? What can you say to them?
Jonan:
Reading is an invitation to think, which ‘surprisingly’ turns out to be hugely important for the survival of the human species. To become thinkers, we must be willing to view the world through different lenses and eventually generate a multitude of perspectives from which we can forge our own unique path.
The ability to have a better-shaped perspective, to know things beyond your world, to be immersed in experiences you’ve not lived … these are some of the ultimate rewards of reading: You get to live lives you’ve never lived and walk on roads you’ve never walked. You explore the school of knowledge, listening, and learning from those that went before you. So in a way, to read is to know how to live life differently beyond the limitations of your spaces, time, and organs (body).
But also, knowledge breeds confidence and as man’s core source of wisdom, reading ought to be embraced wholeheartedly by those who seek to become better versions of themselves just through the power of knowledge and understanding.
For me, I realized that my observational analysis before I started reading was quite superficial. I would base my analyses mostly on a limited set of facts and arguments, which would make them only partially relevant and fit for specific circumstances and wrong in others. I also discovered that failure for in-depth reading and reflection would often result in many gross generalizations and assumptions, allowing me to disregard the masterpiece while fixating on the brushstrokes or to miss the forest for the trees.
Let me give you a general example. You would be right to say that Philly Lutaaya is arguably the greatest musician of his generation. And I am deliberate with my usage of words here. But anyone who reads this statement might wonder whether you are referring to the Ugandan context or the world stage. They have, by instinct and exposure, judged that by international standards, this statement could be quite a gross generalization, given the amount of talent that existed at the same time internationally.
This is what reading is about; it extends your eyes beyond your horizon so you can see life outside your limits. And as people move from superficiality, the embodiment of true expertise that a skilled doctor offers to rescue a dying patient is a sound of hope, yet a fruit of reading that our world currently desperately needs. I have already met enough mediocre medical practitioners playing around with my life. Everyone needs a well-informed mechanic who won’t mess up their engine. Not that hustler who is simply reproducing knowledge gained through only observation. So yes, reading is important; the details are usually in the literature, and the devil knows that.
Morine:
In your view, what makes reading more effective for learning compared to other methods, and what could make it a preferred choice?
Jonan:
Allow me to first state that people learn differently and have preferred methods of learning. This preference is due to a series of factors, and I argue that people should explore the methods they are most comfortable with, especially because learning has become a premium thing in our time: extremely difficult. People abandoned learning the day they left school.
It was the top of their education, so I won’t be the one judging those listening to podcasts instead of actually reading. I also have a friend who’s convinced that he learns through movies.
But this is what makes reading so powerful: most ideas, in their purest forms, exist in written formats. Movies are scripted before they are acted, and so are most YouTube videos. Most of these, if not all, are products of literature. Even speeches that were recorded live and later on transcribed were mostly in ink first before the live moments were captured and would best be preserved in written form rather than just video. This is not to say that there are no fresh or new ideas that people give through podcasts and YouTube channels. We are also not saying that these are useless means of learning. But rather that reading presents fewer risks and exceeds them, even though it also has its own challenges and risks.
Morine:
Allow me to interrupt you and share my worst experience with watching videos shared via social media to acquire knowledge, which is the constant interruption from ads and device message notifications, which would easily diverge me from my goal. I now understand that social media apps like YouTube are designed to maximize profit by keeping users engaged, using sophisticated algorithms to suggest enticing content. This would often lead to spending hours on random, unproductive videos instead of achieving my original goal. In contrast, reading apps, and especially books, offer a more focused and uninterrupted learning experience.
Please go on …
Jonan:
Therefore, reading presents an opportunity to explore facts in their most unfiltered, unexaggerated form. It helps you see the world through the idea bearer’s intended mind before the cream of interpretations either complement or distort it.
The foundational principles that guide much of our understanding of the world and reality exist in written form as the primary form rather than in video or audio. This alone makes reading not just a more desirable source of information but also a more reliable source of information.
Furthermore, reading broadens horizons and offers a variety of vantage points for examining situations. Readers tend to be more receptive to new inventions and ideas because their minds are already alert to the endless possibilities in the world, unlike non-readers, who tend to be overly sensitive to new trends because they don’t know any better.
Morine:
Where should those eager to start reading begin? Especially if budget is a constraint, what resources are available to them?
Jonan:
Budget will always be a constraint, but just like there will always be a budget for ‘kusimbula’ [meaning partying or hanging out ], so, if one is really interested, there is an interesting book for any amount they can spare. Reading communities usually help as people swap books and share insights.
There are always free online libraries, especially for those willing to read soft copies. I have read many books that have been made available in soft copy for free and some at a small fee. There are also generous people who have bought copies and earned licenses to reproduce them in other formats. I encourage eager readers to take a look at those.
The challenge is that there are people who prefer hard copies alone. To these, I have a simple piece of advice: if your budget is constrained, then avoid the original copies. If you are living in a country like ours, there are always photocopies of the original. Of course I am not endorsing duplication or undervaluing authors’ efforts. I am only stating the basic fact that the duplicates exist at a smaller fee as compared to the original.
However, we all should know that learning is expensive. Reading is an investment, so it should be taken seriously. The amount of data we spend on watching TikTok and YouTube videos or Netflix subscriptions might not compete with the cost of books. So, if it’s an issue of priorities, we might have to choose what works best for our souls.
You don’t have to buy an entire library at once. Buy one book at a time, if you can. Borrow a book from a friend. Check out those that have read lots of books and ask them if they are willing to share. It might sound like a stretch, but remember, you might not have the resources, and you need the knowledge.
Morine:
Can you share tips on how to develop and maintain a reading habit and offer some words of encouragement to stay motivated?
Jonan:
I can share a few in summary.
- Start early. Reading at a young age expands the reader’s brain and memory and sets the scene for a lifetime relationship with reading, which is a date with wisdom.
- Read at your pace. Take time to internalize words, look up their meanings, get the context within which they are used, and basically savor the reading experience.
- Read what tickles your fancy. It is okay to challenge yourself and read intense material, but do not sacrifice your passion to impress.
- Write. Sometimes, it helps to read some of your own stuff. Reading edifies you while writing humbles you.
There could be a lot of discouraging factors. But you have to keep in mind that everyone else is either facing them or has faced them. So believe in the small progress. Sometimes, you might forget what you read yesterday. All of this is part of the process. Learn to take notes, evaluate how the reading for that day has shaped your view of the world, and find joy in that.
Additionally, get a reading partner if you can. This will help you keep motivated. This partner could work as an accountability person to keep you focused. They might be reading the same book or just there to listen to your new reflections from the book you are reading. This could work for you.
Finally, be intentional and read towards a goal! This might help you get focused. I have a friend who wanted to start a coffee farm. That was the goal! So he read all the books he could access about the same. He is now a happy coffee farmer in Sembabule.
Morine:
This has been very insightful. Thank you very much. Any closing words?
Jonan:
Reading is not a task. It is not an assignment. It is certainly not a chore!
– To the blossoming reader gulping down volumes of sweet text one after the other, do not stop; you will appreciate the impacts of what you are doing now later when your brain thanks you for exercising it. — To the one who’s just started reading, do not stop or look back, or like Lot’s wife, you might turn into a pillar of salt. — To the non-reader, it’s never too late to start. Your brain needs it, your mind needs it, your body needs it, and quite honestly, you deserve better.
Be blessed.
