Deep Reading and Classics Foster Critical Thinking
Daniel Rosa explains why complex works and philosophy outperform superficial business books in mental development.
In a discussion on intellectual development, Daniel Rosa argues for studying classics and deep reading as mental training. Learn how this habit sharpens critical thinking and improves questioning in everyday professional life.
Daniel Rosa, founding partner at Sales Rush, highlighted the impact of dense reading and classical texts on critical thinking during a conversation with Bruno Gimenes on Marketing - The Podcast. In a clip from an episode focused on sales and psychology, the dialogue addressed the importance of dedicating time to deep study amid the excess of digital stimuli.
The reading habit against superficiality
In the video above, Rosa and Bruno analyze how the daily abundance of data does not always translate into structured knowledge. For Bruno, setting aside specific moments in the daily routine exclusively for reading serves as the foundation for conceiving new ideas. Rosa agrees and recalls his father's mentorship in encouraging books from an early age, noting that his professional inclination has always leaned toward communication.
Reflecting on current reading habits, Rosa cites the journey of a Silicon Valley investor who began his education in Indian libraries to contrast the value of canonical texts with standardized commercial publications. According to Rosa, recent literature aimed at the corporate world often repeats formulas: "When we read lighter stuff nowadays, it's also become a bit superficial—those semi-self-help business books where everything is so similar, publishers have a template and release countless copies." The practical advice, therefore, is to turn to classics to structure one's thinking.
Philosophy, cognitive effort, and the muscle analogy
In defending the study of classical authors, Rosa links the philosophical tradition to contemporary demands, such as crafting questions and prompts in digital systems. For him, the stance of constant questioning associated with Plato embodies the intellectual discipline required by the market: "The more I know, the more I know that I know nothing. Man, you have to keep asking questions."
Rosa compares the resistance and feeling of slowness when tackling complex reading to physical muscle hypertrophy. "He has a thesis that it's just like a muscle. When you go to the gym and work out, the next day, if it was good, it aches—but that's not necessarily a problem, it's rebuilding itself," Rosa explains. For him, the brain needs organic intervals to assimilate dense content, warning against the trap of abandoning difficult topics in favor of immediate screen consumption.