Technology As Innovator

Sep 10

How Good is an Online Article

Category: How General stuffs work Add comments

Article

As good as a book index

My summary of the Enneagram, for example, summarizes my knowledge after reading most celebrated books on the topic.

While a summary doesn’t generally provide thorough coverage as a book does, it gives readers an outline of the subject. When the reader have familiarized themselves with topics and terminologies, s/he then can focus on learning what needed.

As good as a trivia

This serious joke on a Marketer is generally considered trivial. However, a seemingly trivial matter, as it often comes from close observation of the world in another angle, may generate innovative ideas, help to spot niche markets or popup interesting surprises.

As good as a fiction

Some articles contain stories; stories tell lives. Articles that tell lives hold metaphors of human values.

This one is a positive guide to help better communication. But more than that, if you read and feel, imagine and think, you will be able to visualize another sophisticated side of the life of some people you have known.

Explore your friends the way you do fiction

As good as a well-established message

When I write about free software, my message is clear: “Use software legally!”

If you want to send a message, write about it and include deep thoughts. The quantity and quality of response you receive proportionate the efforts you spend.

Less is more

My advice for web surfers is not to read more, but to understand more deeply the contents of the articles. If you find yourself not understanding an article you find weirdly interesting, read it again; if you don’t have time to read that many for many times, surf less.

Many articles make up a book

I have read many in-depth blog posts and followed many discussions on Search Engine Optimization. Then just recently I got my hand on a well-written book on SEO. Much to my surprise, most knowledge and insights covered in the book can be found in FREE articles all over the net.

When to refrain from online articles

While valuing the benefits of reading online articles, I don’t encourage replacing reading books with skimming articles though. Articles are scattered, more well-off, many of which contain noises or non-relevant comments. To a beginner in a subject, reading a book cover-to-cover should still be favored, since being able to collect and synthesize scattered knowledge requires information finding and knowledge management skills together with relatively well-formed experience on the (similar) subject.

Another factor should be considered is that “many articles is equivalent a book” can be applied effectively in technology fields where cohesion is within its own logical structure. For social sciences and economics, it is less recommended as reading scattered bits of different schools is an easy way to enter confusion.