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Depth When Consuming Information Matters
Leadership / Principles · Added Apr 2026 · Updated May 2026
Skimming everything teaches you nothing. Depth is where understanding lives.
The Idea
Reading ten summaries gives you ten shallow opinions. Reading one primary source gives you one grounded perspective. The volume of information available makes it tempting to skim, but skimming is not learning — it's collecting surface impressions.
Why It Matters
- Shallow consumption creates the illusion of knowledge without real understanding.
- Deep reading builds mental models. Skimming builds vocabulary.
- People who go deep on a few sources make better arguments than those who skim many.
- In a world of summarised takes, the person who read the original has an edge.
How to Apply
- Read fewer things, but read them properly. One book is worth twenty blog posts.
- When you catch yourself skimming, stop and ask: do I actually need this, or am I just collecting?
- Take notes in your own words. If you can't restate it, you didn't absorb it.
- Prioritise primary sources over commentary.
The Trap
Using depth as procrastination. You don't need to read everything deeply — just the things that matter. The skill is choosing what deserves depth, not applying it indiscriminately.
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