Regardless of how you choose to read, keep on reading
I suppose if you asked me if I like to read, the answer would depend on the book.
There are over 100 genres and subgenres of books, ranging from fiction and nonfiction to Mystery, Romance, and Magical Realism. Amazon lists over 16,000 categories of books.
Despite the vast variety to choose from, leisure reading has steadily declined over the past decade, according to the Washington Post. Children today are also reading, and enjoy reading, less than any other generation of children, according to recent research.
Books have the power to change our lives, influence our thoughts, and dictate our every decision.
I did not always see the importance of books. Like other children, my parents introduced books to me in the form of bedtime stories. In elementary school, I read books to fulfill the dreaded Accelerated Reading (AR) points, a program requiring students to read certain books to take comprehension quizzes.
While some of my peers read books only to fulfill school requirements, I soon fell in love with the art of escaping from reality within the pages of a fiction story. I would get attached to characters as I knew them in real life and when I finished a series it was like losing a friend.
As I get older and begin to read books less for leisure and more to learn, I am finding a new appreciation for books I did not see before.
Reading “Introduction to Human Communications” may not be as thrilling as “Harry Potter,” but I cannot deny the valuable information gained.
Having access to an education and the ability to read books is a privilege I do not want to take for granted.
Since the invention of the television, leisurely reading in the U.S. decreased while television consumption increased. The introduction of cell phones and personal devices such as ipads further solidified this trend.
We need to model reading for enjoyment to our youth growing up in today’s digital world. The act of reading is not always obvious when done from a tablet that offers so many other purposes.
We’re fortunate, in the Dayton region, to have reading resources at our fingertips. The Dayton Metro Library, for example, has a number of reading programs for our community, Project Read has been working for more than 30 years to help improve literacy.
Take advantage of what our community has to offer. Regardless of how you choose to read, keep on reading.