Search results are useless, AI is poisoning Wikipédia. While I do have the patience to read primary sources in my field of study, it becomes a nightmare to repeat this process for every bit of information I want.
I’m almost signing up for Encyclopedia Britannica. I don’t know what else to do.
Books?
Books aren’t an answer to this question if you need quick information you couldn’t have predicted you’d need, and therefore do not own a book about.
I just feel books are the ultimate source of knowledge. Been collecting them forever. Also books are free at the library and they have computers to search for things.
I also have offline Wikipedia from a few years ago, and an offline Reddit from a few years ago before it was poisoned with AI and bots.
Books are amazing, but i wouldn’t agree they are a source of reliable information. Yes some books have reliable information, but just because its a book doesn’t mean it can’t have misinformation or even disinformation. Books were the original source of conspiracy theories and beyond that they can’t be updated with new information.
That being said books are amazing. With a good library and a good librarian you can learn anything.