HOW TO BE TRULY INTERESTING

True depth comes from lived experience, not the props we carry or the knowledge we consume

- Somal Das

In today’s world, where personal branding seems to be a fundamental social currency, it’s easy to see why people often attach themselves to external markers—whether it’s books, causes, or hobbies—in an attempt to define themselves. But I often wonder, has everything worth saying already been said? When I consider the bookshelves filled with existential wisdom, it’s hard not to feel that all the grand revelations about life, love, suffering, and existence have already been explored and articulated. What new insights could possibly be found that haven’t been addressed in one form or another?

The truth is, even artificial intelligence can now churn out a novel better than most humans could. Large Language Models can generate entire books in a matter of minutes. This begs the question: does reading still hold the same value, or have we turned it into an exercise in validation? I’m not trying to dismiss the joy of reading—far from it—but rather, I’m questioning the act of making reading central to one’s identity. Must reading define who you are, or be a metric by which others assess your worth?