Everything good comes slow

What I love is slowness. Slow people, slow reading, slow traveling, slow eggs, and slow love. Everything good comes slow.

— Lynne Sharon Schwartz

In today's fast-paced world, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. We find ourselves in a race to digest and comprehend as much knowledge as we possibly can before our time runs out - but have you considered what implications this has on society? The architecture that supports learning is also put under increased pressure due to modern day demands. How will these developments shape future generations' mindsets and culture?

With the ever-growing mounds of information to consume, we're all in search of faster ways to take it all in. As a Software Engineer, I was no different -- speed reading became my go-to method for digesting everything that comes across my desk. But when it came to those life changing books, even with an increasingly busy schedule I refused give up on savoring every word and experiencing its maximum potential; this left me questioning: is taking things slow really worth the time?

One of the essential techniques to master speed reading is learning how to spot key words. When you take a glance at both the first and last word in every sentence, it becomes easier over time to get an overall understanding of what is being said without having read all of its content - something that can be acquired with some consistent practice!

Reading is a skill that has been around since the 5th century. According to St Augustine, he was in awe of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan's reading habits as his eyes rapidly scrolled through pages while simultaneously understanding and absorbing their meaning without uttering a single word! Inspired by this curious phenomenon, I decided to embark on an adventure - 30 days of testing out speed-reading techniques before bedtime each night.

Paul Sanger's research indicates that during the Dark Ages, silent reading was a strange and unfamiliar concept. Part of why this might have been is because texts were written in scriptura continua which made it difficult for readers to comprehend without vocalizing syllables aloud.

Bishop Ambrose was a true pioneer of silent reading, changing the way books were consumed throughout 12th century Europe. Before his efforts to promote individual and private study through punctuation innovations, it had been tradition for texts to be read collectively by groups - with community interpretations being given priority over personal insights. Through this practice of silently connecting himself with words on page alone in seclusion however, Ambrose ignited not only a cultural revolution but also set off an everlasting impact that still resonates today as we continue curling up with good reads and exploring our own creative thoughts about them!

Alberto Mangual would never forget the transformative moment he discovered reading. As if suddenly gifted with a sixth sense, his heightened awareness allowed him to explore far-reaching depths of understanding — beyond mere visuals and sounds that eyes or ears could detect. His body was no longer just feeling words but grasping their true meaning; giving voice to comprehend them in ways it had not been able before.

Reading has long been regarded as a complex, uncertain practice. Recent findings have suggested that it is comprised of two unique phases - perceiving the words, and unlocking their true meaning with an infusion of emotion, physical sensation and deep-seated knowledge. It's almost like travelling through space where our visual senses team up with memory to create something profound fueled by core parts of our being!

Everyone's personal experiences form part of their unique identity, and the way we experience our surroundings can greatly affect how much pleasure or transformation they bring. The Slow Movement encourages us to take extra time to bask in life’s moments - giving our minds more space to create connections that enrich comprehension and catapult us into satisfaction.

The current culture of speed and rushed reading might be becoming the norm, but thankfully people are fighting back with movements like slow food, looking, and reading. Instead of frenetically rushing from task to task without appreciating its experience or beauty in-between - these movements strive for more meaning and quality. This is a battle that we must all fight together if we want future generations to appreciate slower moments rather than just speeding through them blindly!

Libraries have always been ahead of their time. In response to the ever-evolving reading culture, libraries all over are embracing transformation and becoming places for more than just books - they're now versatile spaces with innovation labs, open readings rooms and other public services that can truly be called a modern marvel! 

This thought-provoking question begs to be answered: Is our love of delving deep into a book becoming nothing more than a distant memory? Are we now content to just skim the surface when engaging with information and knowledge, or is there still room for getting lost in an intriguing tale?