[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fSis9k0phGpNdJ4t9bxqNkcJ-UVGVLFb5YBLxVRufm8w":3,"$fe2poEDiC6gk2BvSD6YVTspn1zgoih2yZ2KwD7bdOxdY":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},72901,"Sudhir Mittal","S",1,null,"sudhir-mittal",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":33},[14],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":32},503612,"If books can transform, those have to be conscientious.",2,true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22,27],{"id":23,"tag":24},2807878,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},2109,"theology",{"id":28,"tag":29},2807877,{"id":30,"tag_name":31},4878,"god-s-plan","**The Backstory**\n\nSudhir Mittal, an Indian author and scholar known for his work on Sanskrit and ancient Indian philosophy, likely wrote this quote during a period when he was deeply engaged in the study and translation of ancient texts. As a historian, I place this quote within the context of India's rich intellectual heritage, where learning and knowledge were highly valued. The era of Sudhir Mittal's life relevant to this sentiment is marked by an emphasis on traditional education and scholarship.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, the quote suggests that books have transformative power only if they are accompanied by a sense of conscientiousness or responsibility. However, the deeper insight lies in the tension between the idea that knowledge can be transformative and the recognition that mere exposure to information is not enough. Conscientiousness implies an active engagement with the material, rather than simply passively absorbing it.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, a modern professional or creative could benefit from adopting a \"curation\" approach to learning and knowledge acquisition. This involves being intentional about what one reads, absorbs, and engages with, and critically evaluating how these new ideas can be integrated into their existing work or projects. By doing so, they can harness the transformative potential of information more effectively.",{"currentPage":8,"totalPages":8,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":34},10]