Why we ought to read books

I remember my childhood days when I was still in elementary school. My dad would urge every members of the family to take their homework seriously using witty remarks that defined the kind of lifestyle we would expect to live, if we failed to attain high grades. He would say “Hey, I hope you will not end up as a butcher’s assistant who washes tripe all day long”. Now, the thought of cleaning smelly intestinal contents of animals was a most unwelcome idea. That could have partly contributed to my reading hard in order to excel in my school work, and eventually ending up with a noble occupation.

Many children hate school and anything to do with schooling such as books. Parents go to great lengths in their attempt to persuade their children to go to school and also, read books. It is advisable for parents to read interesting story books to their children in order to inculcate a reading culture into their children early in life. Both fiction and factual literature should provide a healthy menu which is gradually overtaken by factual stories, current issues and biographies later in life. This leads to an important question in our lives. Why should we read books? There are numerous reasons why we ought to read books. Some of these reasons have been explained below.

Every individual is born in an existing culture which they view as normal or common place until they encounter other cultures that view issues differently. If the individual’s encounter is a first time encounter, they are bound to register shock due to contrasts with their own previous experiences. People who read books are better placed when it comes to withstanding such shocks because literature has already revealed it to them.

Where cultural shocks often compel victims to mistreat those they view as different in upbringing, wide readership of books arms the reader with wide knowledge. It puts you in a position where you can hold conversation even with strangers. It arms the reader with tools to engage in an intellectual discourse.

Emancipated individuals are better placed in social interactions compared to those with inhibitions. The reading of books exposes us to other cultures thereby making us more tolerant to other people.

I loved my geography teacher and by extension, the subject became a favorite discipline later in life. My teacher had a way of plucking the entire class using well formulated sentences, and planting us in entirely different geographical experiences like the beautiful glaciers of Switzerland or the imposing dykes in Netherlands in a sixty minute lesson. The conclusion of the lesson meant bringing ourselves back to reality on realizing we are still seated behind a desk. The reading of books provides the reader an opportunity to embark on exciting inexpensive literary jaunts or trips that would be very expensive to make in real life.

Books have a way of imparting skilled knowledge to the reader that comes dearly in a formal school setting. I have read many books that have enabled me to work with equipment or even operate machinery I previously knew nothing about. We would spend all our lives in a classroom trying to learn about unfamiliar things were it not for the skills we acquire from books. I have also read many books on issues I have never known existed. New bodies of knowledge that are truly enriching are often found in books. One can learn how to paint by book knowledge.

Many are the times when you have picked up a fictional book and read purely for the joy provided by the story in the book. Some story lines can be very entertaining and even provide thrills you are not likely to find anywhere else. Reading for entertainment can be a pleasurable experience as many scholars will testify. Books can be mentally stimulating. They are a more preferably rewarding mode of entertainment than watching television. It is sometimes better to sit down to a good book than go out on an expensive outing, thereby saving a lot of money.

Reading can be turned into a hobby. Imagine how enriching and rewarding such a hobby can be, with knowledge, skills and new discoveries that come with it. As a hobby, reading requires time that would otherwise be used in less useful practices.

People who read widely are better in speech and communication skills. This owes to the large amount of vocabulary that one encounters as they peruse through literature. You know what to say when something needs to be said and when to keep quiet. People appreciate those who are able to communicate with ease. This is in view of the fact that inability to communicate poses a unique challenge.

A good reader is better placed a handle issues in life. They tend to have a power, instinct, aptitude, capability or natural ability that is often lacking in people who do not read books. The reading of books tends to positively improve one’s ability to concentrate while focusing on tasks.

We often acquire bodies of knowledge from books. Such knowledge turns us into more knowledgeable individuals who are well informed about life issues. We end up asking fewer questions after absorbing such information. Characters in books inspire us to fulfill our hearts desires like embarking on businesses. Factual books and biographies tend to be most inspiring. They reveal our mentors’ lifestyles for emulation by any interested parties.

Reading requires a person to be still, compose oneself, and get to understanding what the writer wrote on paper. Avid readers are good at calculating, weighing and analyzing content, which comes with the mental discipline of digesting ideas prior to putting them into action. Such individuals are capable of carefully planning before implementing new ideas.

There is a wide variety of books that a person can read. They span from fiction to real life experiences. The types of books that one reads depend upon one’s interests. Small children are keen on mythical story books. Many youthful individuals love fiction. Ladies love books on romance while many mature people will go for real life literature.

Although intellectuals will advise on the reading of less attractive academic books, it is usually wise to cultivate your reading habit by reading interesting fictional story books initially that will endear you to books. Fictional literature is often captivating and provides room for mental creativity. This should lead one to more realistic life episodes and biographical writings. Newspapers and magazines do not provide serious mental stuff for avid readers.

Amazon through their kindle project has made the purchase, acquisition and reading of books much easier for those who like reading a variety of books. Their eBook format of publications is highly portable and affordable. They even offer eBooks at reduced prices thereby making them accessible.

Why should we read books? As observed above, we ought to read books as a cure for cultural shocks. Books provide an alternative inexpensive literary trip or jaunt into both known and unknown world. We gain skilled knowledge when we read books. Many people read for entertainment instead of going out, thereby saving a lot of money. Reading as a hobby is a rewarding and enriching experience. We should read in order to learn new things. It is important to read to improve your aptitude and mental prowess.

Good communication skills are acquired when we read books. People who read books are good at analyzing and planning. One is advised to read a wide variety of books considering the fact that books are currently more affordable and portable in their electronic format.