Why Do You Read?

So today I was reading a book, quietly minding my own business and my partner, the person sitting next to me on the bench asked me “What are you reading?” I told him the name of the book (which is not relevant here). 

And the next question he asked me is what made me write this article, just to answer this question to myself and all the many people who may have the similar question or are just curious about it. He asked me “Why do you read?” and I was like “What?!” and then he went on and explained his question which at first, I thought was really stupid and ambiguous, but went on to be one of the more interesting question I have been asked. He elaborated his question adding “I mean, why do you read books when there is so much content on television movies etc. and also, I don’t understand why you would read a book for fun.” At this point I was starting to be amused by his perceptions “I mean just play a game on your phone, listen to songs, watch a movie, there are so many things so much more interesting than reading a book which is not even related to our studies(he meant academic course books as we are in the same field).”

Soon as he completed his question, I was looking at him stunned by his point of view, no doubt I was surprised, I was also shocked to my core. As I have never been asked so existential a question regarding something I have been doing from childhood, like as simple as reading. And it got me to thinking, “Why do I read?” and to my own surprise, I was ready to give him answer much more quickly than I thought possible. And also, to add to my surprise I articulated it so well that I think he was also intrigued by my answer. I said (and I almost quote…)

“Firstly, there are obvious benefits of reading… they are

• It improves your vocabulary
• It improves your grammar
• It improves your articulation
• It gives you knowledge of different cultures

Secondly, there are not so obvious in short term, but heavily obvious in long term benefits…

• It improves your imagination
• It improves your creativity
• It boosts your artistic side
• It improves your capability of grasping important content from any text you read
• It helps you understand different people and appreciate diversity

And also, in one manner where book is better than a movie is, in a movie you see what the director wants you to see, you can’t put your own imagination, interpretation of scenes, characters, stories. While in book you basically have a script and you can go wild in your own imagination and create scenes, sets, characters of your own and make them as you want.” (I do appreciate and enjoy movies also.)

And as I said this he literally said “This is the first time I am understanding why people like to read books, until now I just thought they are idiots.” Although I was slightly offended by the last part of that statement, I don’t think it mattered much. And then as I thought about it more, the more I am finding reasons as to why you should read (more if you already do read)

And to add to the above list, what I have accumulated yet is

• As you read more from different time periods, you understand the evolution of the language, how it changed over time and how it differentiates from the past.
• As you read more from different languages you get to know many new cultures and with all that diversity, you realize that however different, fundamentally the humans are all one and the same.
• You are more tolerable to different kinds of people, as you know their culture a little bit because you are well read.
• You think twice before speaking an unpleasant word, as you have read many stories about how it does not end well for anyone involved.
• You will get know the many mistakes humans have made in the history and you will try to not repeat them or let anyone else repeat them.

And this is all I can add for now…

I do not intend any disrespect to any other form of entertainment as in movies, television, games etc. I also enjoy them, but this article is to answer the question in the title and keep that in mind before you think any such things.

If you have any additions for, and/or answers to “Why Do You Read?” please do add them and comment. If you disagree with anything here or appreciate something here, do comment.

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