Technology and online life have changed how people read: screens deliver quick access to information but also fragment attention and make reading compete with many other stimuli. In response, some readers prefer slower, deeper reading and seek spaces where they can share books, ideas and sustained attention.
One such space is Leamos, a reading group created by marketing specialist Benjamedn Edwards. Edwards describes reading as a different kind of time — a mental time in which imagination adds context, smells, colours and intentions to a story, and where the mind works to understand and expand knowledge. For him, that mental time can replace ordinary chronological time.
Edwards argues that a human reading group offers qualities AI cannot fully replace: conversation, contribution, surprise, challenge and emotional commitment. A group can feel enthusiasm or boredom and a moderator can react. AI may simulate, summarise and assist short-term curiosity, but it does not create the same shared emotional and creative space. On critical thinking, Edwards says a good prompt shows critical thought because it asks the right question, yet the process of developing, testing and changing an idea is essential; AI can turn our idea into "its idea" and distance us from the creative process. He sees AI as a useful tool but not a replacement for deep critical and creative potential.
Club Leamos began in September 2024 after Edwards posted an open invitation on LinkedIn. The club holds weekly online sessions, usually in the Peru time zone, with participants from different countries. In each session three or four people present a book, give a short summary and answer three questions:
- What is the book about?
- Why did you like it?
- Why should everyone read it?
Other activities include a literary secret friend, in-person meetings in bookshops and cafés, visits to places with literary history, and a podcast called La biblioteca imaginaria where two club members discuss a book. Edwards hopes Leamos will grow in Latin America; to join, contact him via his LinkedIn profile.
Difficult words
- fragment — break into small, disconnected parts
- sustained — lasting for a long unbroken period
- imagination — ability to form new mental images or ideas
- moderator — person who guides and manages a discussion
- simulate — produce a likeness or imitation of something
- prompt — a short instruction or question to elicit response
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What advantages and disadvantages of using AI for reading and discussion does Edwards mention? Give examples from the text.
- How might meeting in person (bookshops, cafés, visits to literary places) change the reading experience compared to weekly online sessions?
- Would you join a reading club like Leamos that includes a podcast and international participants? Why or why not?
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