- Digital technologies and AI have fragmented human attention, making deep reading more difficult and less communal.
- The "Leamos" reading club, created by Benjamín Edwards, fosters human connection, emotional exchange, and shared intellectual discovery that AI cannot replicate.
- Critical thinking requires the process of developing, testing, and refining ideas—a human journey that is lost if AI simply provides the final result.
The Philosophy of Deep Reading
- Reading functions as a shift in time perception, moving from "chronological time" to "mental time" where imagination provides context, color, and intent to a narrative.
- In academic contexts, reading recalibrates the mind to broaden knowledge boundaries.
Human Groups vs. Artificial Intelligence
- AI is useful for synthesis and short-term curiosity, but it lacks emotional nuance, solidarity, and the ability to spark genuine surprise or collective emotional engagement.
- Unlike human groups, AI interaction is often compared to "talking to a mirror," as it lacks the collaborative synchronicity of a diverse group discussing ideas.
- Using AI to generate finished ideas alienates the user from the creative process, potentially diminishing human critical and creative potential.
About the Leamos Club
- Founded by Benjamín Edwards in September 2024 via LinkedIn, the group seeks to remove stigmas around "serious" versus "light" reading.
- The club operates via weekly online sessions (mostly in Peru time) where members present books and answer three core questions: What is it about? Why did you like it? Why should others read it?
- The community has organically expanded to include in-person meetings, bookstore visits, and a companion podcast titled La biblioteca imaginaria.
- The founder intends to expand the network across Latin America to further foster community-driven literary exploration.