Why Read When I can Practice?

A library … is a great catalyser, accelerating the nutrition and rate of progress in a profession. — Sir William Osler (12 Jul 1849 - 29 Dec 1919) Canadian Physician, Medical Educator, and Author

 After reading the blog post on the importance of reading https://agnipathdoctors.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-basic-key-to-success.html some of my friends and students have questioned me: Is there any role of reading in subjects which require practice to learn such as driving a car or bike, sports, or even performing surgical operations? Instead of wasting our time in reading about such practical subjects should not a person utilize their time in practice so that they can learn it better and become master in that field?

There is some theory involved in almost all subjects even those that appear purely practice-based at first glance. It might be that you may have learned the theoretical part through verbal instruction by the teacher/coach/instructor rather than reading.

Take a skill like driving a car. Dr. Dev (Fictional Name) joined a driving school to learn how to drive a car. Before starting his driving lessons, the instructor gave Dr. Dev a small booklet containing the traffic rules and regulations and the traffic signs. Only after the instructor was satisfied that Dr. Dev had assimilated the content of the rule book that Dr. Dev was issued a learning license.

Before even starting the car, the instructor again explained the different parts of the car, such as the accelerator, clutch, and brake pedal, the gear shift stick, how to change gear and which gear to use at which speed range, etc. Then there were the pointers and tips on driving safely, such as the correct method of overtaking a vehicle, driving across an intersection, and so on. So, as you can see there is a lot of theory involved in even driving a car.

Even in sports, the sportsman has to learn the rules and regulations of the game. The number of books published on all types of sports, even such ultra-physical activities such as mountain climbing and martial arts is witness to the fact that theoretical part and reading is important even in sports.

 Reading about your profession/job/vocation will give you the confidence to face any challenges and questions put by your superior/boss/chief. This can lead to the opportunity to newer responsibilities and experience than you are performing now. An example of this you can read here https://agnipathdoctors.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-lumber-sympathectomy.html

By reading you can get the theoretical foundation to perform a new skill. This can give you the confidence to attempt something that you have never done before. You can read Dr. Dev’s experience here https://agnipathdoctors.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-first-laparoscopic-appendectomy.html

There is no doubt that you can become a better driver, surgeon, physician, actor, sportsman, negotiator, manager, entrepreneur, etc. by long and hard practice, but reading can serve as an important complement to help you achieve excellence in your chosen field.

We will end with two quotes by Sir William Osler which though originally were for medicine and physician apply to all human endeavors, the first on the importance of reading and the second on the importance of practice along with reading.

“It is astonishing with how little reading a doctor can practice medicine, but it is not astonishing how badly he may do it.” — Sir William Osler

“To study the phenomena of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all.” — Sir William Osler

— ND

(Based on allegedly true incidents.)

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board norms.