Case Quote by John Sherman Cooper
“I don't think many people have ever read the report. Who has read 26 volumes of this case? How many read the summary? If you read the summary, it takes a long time.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Hearing, 1970s, null
Highlights the rarity of deep engagement with extensive reports and the tendency to skim summaries.
In simple terms: Few read long reports; most skim summaries.
Key Takeaway
Encourage thorough reading of full reports.
Themes
information overload
reading habits
depth vs breadth
Mood
frustration
concern
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- legal review
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
attention span
knowledge acquisition
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we make lengthy reports more accessible?
- What incentives increase deep reading?
A Different Perspective
Reading full reports is time‑consuming and often impractical.
