At the start of the new academic year, it’s a good chance to think about the digital world we live in, and its effect on how we read, how we think, how we learn, and how we use knowledge 1 . Many claim that the digital revolution can bring benefits to our formal education as well as to our lifelong learning. With a few 2 on our keyboards, we can call up huge amounts of information. But you see, sometimes 3 two points. Firstly, no human was born to read. It’s a skill that needs to be taught. Secondly, the act of reading is a miracle which, over 5,000 years, 4 our brains and influenced our thought processes. The question I ask is this: Does getting information quickly and easily have an effect on the traditional reading process? Does reading online get in the way of real thought? There is a huge difference between getting information and getting to the heart of 5 . In fact, it may even 6 to make sure our young people develop expert reading skills before we let them use their computers for study. Of course some people may say it’s better to be able to process vast amount of new information in our digital world than to go beyond 7 and think new thought. I don’t know. But the point I want to make is this: It would be a shame if the great minds which created our digital world could 8 by it.