Hacker News discussed an essay, http://www.paulgraham.com/newideas.html

I took footnote five as a book recommendation, and bought a second hand copy of From Galileo to Newton

Fascinating stuff. Right from the start, with the Royal Society being set up in 1660, money was a problem. Gentleman amateurs couldn't afford to keep skilled craftsman in their employ, building air pumps, blowing glass barometers and the like. So they looked for government patronage.

But to return to the question, I experience some synergy, with blogs and HN stimulating my curiosity and prompting me to buy and read books. Online is not entirely distraction and time wasting.