Why books, not screens, may be the quiet cure for shrinking attention spans in modern Malaysia
PICTURE a modern Malaysian household at 9pm: father on Facebook, forwarding something suspicious about turmeric; mother on TikTok, learning a three-minute Korean recipe she will never attempt; and the child watching a man unbox another man unboxing… something.
And on the shelf, untouched, sits a book. Waiting. Patiently. Like an auntie who knows she is right.
We used to read – properly read. Sit down, turn pages, get lost in worlds without WiFi. Now, if a paragraph exceeds the length of a WhatsApp message, people behave like they have been asked to climb Mount Kinabalu in slippers.
This is not merely nostalgia talking. There is growing evidence – and policy changes overseas – suggesting that perhaps, just perhaps, we went a bit overboard with the screens.
What reading actually does to your magnificent brain
Research over the years has consistently shown that sustained reading, particularly from physical books, supports several important functions.
Focus and comprehension
Reading long-form text trains the brain to concentrate on one narrative without hopping away every eight seconds. It builds stamina for attention – something scrolling does not encourage.
In simpler terms: books teach patience; phones teach panic.
Vocabulary and expression
Books expose readers to richer language, more complex sentence structures and ideas. This improves writing, speaking and the ability to express thoughts clearly.
Very useful when trying to disagree politely at family dinners without flipping the table.
Empathy
Fiction in particular allows readers to inhabit lives other than their own. Studies link this to stronger empathy and social understanding.
You practise feeling for others without actually having to attend their kenduri.
Stress reduction
Reading has been shown to lower stress levels and encourage relaxation. Heart rate slows, muscles ease. Compare this with the emotional rollercoaster of comment sections. Exactly.
Meanwhile, abroad: screens are being shown the door. Several education systems that once rushed enthusiastically towards digital learning are now applying the brakes.
Finland:
Well known for high educational performance, Finland has moved to restrict mobile phone-use during the school day to improve attention and classroom interaction. Some schools are also returning to greater use of printed materials after teachers reported better concentration.
Translation: the paper was not the problem.
Parts of Scandinavia and France:
Schools have introduced structured periods of daily reading where devices are put away. Libraries, physical books and handwriting are being emphasised again. Not because they are old-fashioned but because outcomes matter.
Rise of quiet reading gathering
In a plot twist nobody predicted, reading has also become… social.
Cities in Europe and North America now host public reading meet-ups. People bring books to parks or cafés and read together in companionable silence. Afterwards they chat.
No performances. No shouting. No one filming themselves pretending to think. Imagine such a thing at Taman Tasik Perdana – civilised, slightly smug and beautiful.
Why Malaysia should care?
We are enthusiastic adopters of technology – marvellous, efficient and necessary.
But balance, darling. Balance. Teachers speak about dwindling attention spans. Employers note weaker reading comprehension. Parents notice children allergic to anything longer than subtitles.
If we want articulate citizens capable of analysis rather than reaction, reading must return to daily life.
A modest Makcik proposal
Nothing revolutionary. Just practical.
• Daily quiet reading time in schools – even 20 minutes can build habit;
• Community or park reading sessions organised by libraries or councils;
• Family reading hour at home where everyone participates, adults included. Yes, you too; and
• Book swaps among friends to keep costs down and conversations rich.
Make it normal again. Make it visible.
Final word from the resident Makcik
Reading is not competition for technology; it is compensation for it. It offers depth where screens offer speed; reflection where feeds offer frenzy.
It strengthens language, nurtures empathy and gives the mind room to stretch without being poked every second.
And finishing a good book carries a quiet triumph no notification can match. So, dust off the shelves, visit the library or sit somewhere shady and open a page.
The Makcik, as always, is right.
Azura Abas is the executive editor of theSun. Comments: [email protected]
