Reading has its Rewards

Reading not only gives pleasure but feeds intellect and helps develop a better understanding

It is prophesied that reading will soon become an archaic activity. All over the world, reading habits of both youngsters and adults are on a decline because of a myriad of reasons.  As far as children and youngsters are concerned, they have far too little time and far too many distractions to take to reading books out of pleasure.

A normal day’s schedule has the larger part of the day consigned to school or college. The remaining one third is pledged to various subject tuitions, hanging out with friends, videogames, internet and other activities.

In between, there is hardly any scope for a youngster to read, even if she wants to. So as literacy is higher than ever in history, the habit of reading has declined.

Consequences of This Descent

Insistence on syllabus centered studying makes students apathetic towards the art of reading. When technology was in its infancy, academics required to acquire a comprehensive perspective  through reading newspapers, books, classics, magazines and bright scholars usually were well read and rarely syllabus oriented.

Electronic modes of learning, for instance YouTube lectures, are popularised as an effective substitute to classroom notes and books. Videos and programs with intellectual content remain, however, a visual experience. Moreover, reading is a distinct cognitive method. The written word has the unique ability to construct and convey complex intellectual ideas. The very persistence of a word on a page allows a reader to take their time to read, consider and re-read arguments at their own pace; this does not hold true for the spoken word.

The disappearance of a reading culture has led to dwarfed comprehension skills. According to a study, nearly 38% of most school graduates are deficient in the basic comprehension skills.

Fostering a Reading Culture

Following a routine requires conscious disciplining of the self. Therefore, to develop a habit of reading you must consciously stick to the ‘one-week-one-book’ act before it becomes a part of your life. You can inculcate the habit with a sustained effort.

Reading can be fun if you know how and what to pick up.

• Set a time: Think small and allot 30 minutes to reading everyday.
• Pick something funny: If you are into humour, then ask your friends for suggestions. Get the book and start!
• Carry a book: Take the book everywhere. Read it on the bus, during breakfast, whenever you have nothing important to do.
• Cut down on TV/Internet: Your reading habit will suffer if you don’t minimise the hours you spend on the internet or television. All these activities strain the eye and enslave you to passive entertainment.
• Pamper yourself: Get cosy with your book. Relax, turn on the lamp and settle down on that comfy chair with a hot mug of coffee.
• Write about it: The best way to process what you have read is to write down your thoughts on it.
• Slowly increase the hours: Increase your reading time as you start enjoying the activity.

Books are a source of boundless knowledge and reading helps develop your overall personality. Kids who start reading at young age have higher chances of succeeding. This is simply because employers prefer people with better reading and writing skills. But remember quantity is not quality. Therefore, choose your books carefully. Usually the first page of a book is a good indicator of its style.

A well read and informed person is not only happy and content but also an asset to the society.