Reading maketh a man. This age-old adage, attributed to Francis Bacon, speaks a beautiful truth that reading shapes, refines, and educates. The statement poses a question at the same time: What should a man read?
The world is vastly different from what it was in Bacon’s time. It is a world overflowing with information. The challenge is no longer about gaining access to reading materials. The modern individual is faced with a barrage of content from books, articles, social media posts, and news platforms. This inundation can be as overwhelming as it is unavoidable. But here is the problem—it’s not simply about reading anymore, but what you read.
The matter of choosing reading material is becoming a question day by day. Particularly when considering how certain kinds of information can influence not just our intellect, but our emotional well-being. Today’s reading sphere is dominated by misinformation, divisive rhetoric, and content designed to provoke outrage, introduces a significant risk. Reading the wrong stuff poses the risk of mental insecurity.
Rise of the Information Age
At no other point in history has mankind had such easy access to information. The latest news is available with a few taps on a smartphone – whether it is philosophical essays, scroll through social media updates, or losing ourselves in online forums. This access can be empowering and educational, yet it also presents a unique problem. Much of what we encounter is not designed with our best interests in mind.
The internet, particularly social media platforms, is an environment that rewards sensationalism. Algorithms are designed to feed us content that keeps us engaged, and as studies have shown, engagement spikes when emotions like anger, fear, or outrage are triggered. The more provocative the content, the more likely it is to be consumed and shared. This creates a vicious cycle where emotional stimulation takes precedence over intellectual enrichment.
When people are constantly exposed to inflammatory headlines or biased opinions, their emotional security is at a greater risk. Whatever we read influence how we view the world, our self-perception, and our interactions with others. Consuming divisive or misleading content can distort reality and make us feel disconnected, anxious, or even hostile towards those with differing viewpoints. If we are what we read, what happens when we primarily feed on negativity, falsehoods, and exaggerated claims?
Emotional Security
To understand how the wrong kind of reading material can lead to emotional insecurity, we need to explore the link between the mind and the content it absorbs. Human psychology is deeply affected by the narratives we engage with. Consider the case of someone who spends the majority of their time reading sensationalist news articles or conspiracy theories. Over time, they may start to view the world through a lens of either fear or distrust. This creates a mental environment where paranoia flourishes. And trust—both in others and in oneself—erodes.
Emotional security stems from feeling grounded, understanding the world around you with a level of clarity, and having confidence in your ability to navigate it. The wrong kind of reading undermines this sense of security. Take, for instance, the endless scroll of social media, where curated feeds present skewed versions of reality. People often showcase the highlight reels of their lives, leaving out the mundane or difficult parts. This can make the average reader feel inadequate, leading to feelings of anxiety, jealousy, and self-doubt. One might start comparing their real, imperfect life to the picture-perfect lives they see online, resulting in emotional instability.
Biased or agenda-driven content can affect our worldview. A person who only reads material from extreme ideological sources—whether political, social, or cultural—may become trapped in an echo chamber. This narrowing of perspectives can breed intolerance and reduce the capacity for empathy. Emotional security is closely tied to one’s ability to connect with others, to feel part of a larger, more harmonious society. When reading material leads to division, that sense of belonging disintegrates, leaving behind a fragmented, insecure mindset.
Mental health
The quality of what we read is as important as what we eat. Just as a poor diet can harm our physical health, a poor “mental diet” can damage our psychological well-being. Think of how we process information like food for the brain; if we consume too much toxic or empty content, it starts to wear down our cognitive and emotional resilience.
For instance, constant exposure to violent or distressing news can lead to “headline anxiety,” where people become consumed with worry about global events, even those far beyond their control. The phenomenon of doomscrolling—continuously consuming negative news—can lead to chronic stress and a heightened state of alertness, which can damage both mental and physical health. The more time we spend engaging with upsetting content, the more we risk feeling helpless, anxious, and fearful.
A 2020 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that a significant percentage of Americans cited news consumption as a major source of stress. This isn’t surprising when you consider how news media often prioritizes conflict, disaster, and crisis over stories of hope or progress. A constant diet of alarming headlines can lead to a skewed perception of the world, making it feel more dangerous and unstable than it actually is.
Social media and disinformation
Social media plays a significant role in this landscape. While it has democratized the spread of information, it has also blurred the lines between credible sources and misinformation. The rapid dissemination of content, combined with the difficulty of verifying its accuracy, has led to an environment where “fake news” can thrive. This is particularly problematic because false information tends to spread faster and wider than the truth.
Disinformation can cause severe emotional and psychological harm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the spread of conspiracy theories and false medical advice led to widespread confusion, fear, and mistrust. Many individuals, particularly those who consumed unverified information from social media, experienced heightened levels of anxiety and paranoia.
Reading materials that promote a distorted version of reality can make individuals question their own judgment. When people are repeatedly confronted with information that contradicts what they believe or know to be true, they may start doubting their perceptions. This is said to create a state of cognitive dissonance, where mental stability is shaken by the inability to reconcile conflicting narratives. Over time, this can lead to a deep sense of insecurity and confusion, as individuals lose confidence in their ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Healthy reading diet
In this age of information overload, curating a healthy “reading diet” seems the only remedy for maintaining mental and emotional security. Just as we are mindful of what we eat to maintain physical health, we must be intentional about what we read to ensure our mental well-being.
The first step is to seek balance. While it’s important to stay informed, it’s equally important to consume uplifting or intellectually enriching content. Literature, poetry, and essays that challenge the mind or explore the human condition in thoughtful ways can provide a counterbalance to the negativity that often dominates the news cycle. Reading for pleasure, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, can also offer an escape and help restore a sense of calm and perspective.
And we need to diversify reading sources. It’s easy to get stuck in an echo chamber. We deliberately need to seek out different perspectives that can broaden understanding and empathy. This can help combat the polarization that often leads to emotional insecurity. The diverse voices are one way for us to develop a more nuanced and informed worldview.
Critical thinking can also fit in as an essential companion to reading. Not everything written deserves to be believed. We need to question the sources of information, fact-check claims, and remain sceptical of overly simplistic narratives. It is the simple guard against the manipulation and emotional harm caused by misinformation.
The saying “reading maketh a man” takes on new meaning, because information flows freely and sometimes recklessly. It’s not just the act of reading that shapes us, but what we read. The content we engage with moulds our emotional security, based on its quality and intent.
Sachitra Mahendra