Reading As an Act of Resistance (Notes on Harvard’s Hum 10)

Cal Newport examines the surprising popularity of Harvard's demanding Hum 10 course, which requires students to read a hefty book each week, amid reports that college students can no longer finish books. He explores why students are choosing this 'brutal' class and connects the trend to the broader impact of reward shortcutting, social media algorithms, and generative AI on attention. Newport argues that this counter-movement represents a deliberate push against cognitive shortcuts and a desire for deep intellectual engagement.