Part 3/7:

The crux of the matter lies in understanding the contrasting approaches of my teachers and mentors. My educators predominantly focused on the "what" aspect. They would insist that I read specific classics, urging me with statements like, "This is a great book! You have to read it!" Occasionally, they would delve into the "how," discussing their methods for engaging with the text. However, they rarely, if ever, touched on the "why" behind reading these works.

Had I posed the simple question, "Why should I read it?" my teachers would likely have responded with frustration. Their annoyance stemmed from a lack of clarity around the underlying purpose of reading. Many people—including numerous institutions—often drift through their missions without comprehending the "why" behind their actions.