₦airaland Forum

If you read my articles in the national dailies you may think so too.

I write in national dailies too, but I don't go beyond what I know, and I know little about the past or current happenings in some parts of the world. For the fact that I did a little of philosophy and politics in school, I should be able to write a page on Karl Marx, or Max Weber or Frederic Engel but I can't do three lines on Stalin, Hitler, etc. I'm not sure I can write a page on world wars 1&2 or the ottoman empire or the crusade . These are few of the areas I wish I know about, but due to my poor reading culture I know little about them.

1. Listen: Listening to international radio stations is something I thoroughly enjoy. There is no subject under the sun - from Cambodian wildlife to African politics, from Navajo architecture to space exploration - that is not talked about on radio. I suggest you listen to a few of the international stations and then stick to one that meets your standards of objectivity. Buy audio versions of books and listen to them in the car and at home on weekends.

I'm poor at this too. The only thing I listen to in radio is football, football only. I have apathy for radio, local or international. I try to listen to or watch CNN, BBC, Discovery etc but I easily get bored and switch back to sports channel.

3. Hire a driver: One reason many don't read is that they can't find the time. I assume you live in Lagos where everyone knows what the traffic situation is like. That is good time to for reading. If you can conveniently afford it, hire a driver and read in the car.

I agree this may help but I don't think it's complicated. While I may be able to afford the 35K I'll be paying the driver monthly, there are a number of social/family considerations that will not make me hire a driver at this age/level. Also I don't think driving is a major issue as I don't spend much time driving, I use my car only on weekends and use public transport most times on weekdays.

4. Read here and there: It is not those big books that will get you where you want. Reading short articles in magazines and encyclopedia can open your mind.

Yes I do this and it's been very helpful. Read newspapers and magazines and short journals very well. But another weakling here is that I don't read international mags like Time, The Economist etc much as I would like to be doing. There was a time I was buying them on weekly basis but after going thru the cover stories and I dumpedthem inside thcar they kept piling up without reading. I stopped. buying later.

5. Read novels: If you don't like stories, this will be difficult.

I don't read novels. Highly averesed to it. 200 pages? I ahve resinged to fate here.


Listen to Grannies? yes, i did this growing up. Witjh Grandpa being a first republic politician, most of what I know about first republic politics are from his mouth. Plus few readings later in life I know more about first republic Nigerian politics.

i don pick up Obama's 'Audacity of hope' for six months, I neva read 25 pages.

This is my greatest literary shortcoming. I don't read more than newspapers, and sometimes magazines. I also glance through a number of interesting books on history of Nigerian politics, especially between indepence till now, but they are not usually more than 50 pages.

I read newspapers a lot, from primary school, and till now. But that is the end.

I respect people that are wide-read and try to be like them. I am a public affairs commentator but my very limited knowledge of history and systems doesn't make my writings rich enough to my satisfaction.

I like to be knowledgeable in history, international politics(I'm a little versed in local politics), philosophy, and in fact every field of knowledge, even if little, but I'm not comfortable with my current knowledge. I don't read novels too, neither do I watch films. I know a little about football, that's all.

I won't say I'm lazy but I think it's more of lack of interest. I try to develop interest, but it just isn't coming. I bought Obama' Audacity of Hope at teh Airport in December, and till today, six montsh after, I have not read twenty pages.


I want to be wide read. How do I go about it!!!!!