And what would it look like if we did?
We’ve all seen the food pyramid. For years, it was printed on cereal boxes and pinned to school walls. It told us what to eat, how much, and how often. Grains at the bottom, sweets at the top. A balanced diet, if you followed it.
But food isn’t the only thing we consume.
We also feed our minds—every day, often without thinking. We read emails, headlines, texts. A few of us still make time for books. Many don’t. We snack on words the way we snack on chips: often, automatically, and not always with much nourishment.
So here’s the question:
If we have a food pyramid, why don’t we have a reading pyramid?
What a Reading Pyramid Might Do
A reading pyramid wouldn’t scold. It wouldn’t tell you to stop scrolling or shame you for loving a good beach read. Like its food cousin, it would simply offer a gentle reminder: not all reading feeds the mind in the same way.
It would suggest balance. That’s all.
A Simple Reading Pyramid
Picture a pyramid with five layers:
- At the base:
Everyday reading. Texts, emails, instructions. These keep life running. They’re like bread—useful, but not enough by themselves. - Next up:
Short articles, essays, and good blogs. A little more substance. Quick bites that offer ideas, perspective, or pause. - The middle layer:
Books that pull you in. Novels, memoirs, science writing. These build attention, empathy, imagination. - Near the top:
Challenging reads. Classics, philosophy, history, or books from cultures unlike your own. Not always easy—but deeply nourishing. - And at the tip:
Guilty pleasures. Gossip, fluff, clickbait. Fun, and fine in small doses. Like dessert.
That’s it. No rules. Just shape.
Why It Matters Now
We live in a world that asks for our attention but rarely earns it. The fast replaces the thoughtful. The surface replaces the deep.
Reading is one of the last quiet things we do. And like any habit, it’s shaped by what we choose, what we reach for, what we give time to.
You don’t need to read more.
But maybe you want to read better. Or slower. Or more curiously.
That’s what the pyramid is for.
A Small Invitation
This week, pick something a step higher than your usual. If you read articles, try a book. If you read fiction, try a voice you’ve never heard. If you only read what confirms what you believe—stretch.
Feed your mind. Not because it’s good for you.
But because it feels good to be full in the right way.