Now is my time to put on my grandpa pants and complain about this generation and the one that is following. No one nowadays knows the true value of a good book. We are instant gratification addicts who have no time to wait on something to resolve. I must admit that I am coming from a slightly biased point of view. My parents always read books, some good, some undoubtedly bad, but I grew up with my entire family pressing their noses into the pages of a book. So mu frustration at the following situation is pretty understandable. It was New Year's Eve in 2004 and I was at a friend's house in Atlanta to make dinner with a bunch of friends and ring in the new year together. We made homemade pasta and then proceeded to enjoy a fine feast with great conversation. The evening was moving onward quite well until his little brother walked into the room. He was apparently supposed to be doing a book report over the holiday. He asked us our opinions on what he should do, should I read a new book or should I just do a report of one I already read. Apparently he had done a book report on that one a few years back as well. Out of about fifteen or twenty people I was the only one advocating him reading a new book. When I asked them about this, his older brother said that the only book he reads is the Bible. While reading the Bible is an admirable and necessary thing to do, it is not the only thing that needs to be read.
I left that night a bit discouraged. What is this world coming to if people don't read? It may seem trivial in comparison to other things, but it's importance cannot be measured. The consequences of people not being well read is a society that does not think for itself. We have lost a lot of the philosophers and intellectuals that used to be so prevalent. Education has become a thing where you are only studying so that you can pass, not so that you can learn. Where have all the letter writers gone? In this me-centric instant communication age we have lost a lot. Many people do not read anything, but sit in front of the television and vegetate for hours on end. I am guilty of this so don't get the wrong idea. What would happen in society if everyone gave up TV for one year? What would happen if the channels stopped broadcasting for an entire year? I think that it would be something that would be wonderful, although we all would go through withdrawals for a time(myself very much included).
I was 'indoctrinated' as a child that reading is good an profitable. My favorite books when I was young were The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is truly an amazing thing when you can get lost in a book. It is one of my favorite things to do. Reading a book does not have to be a chore. There is something out there for everyone, something that will enrich your mind and your life. It is a shame when someone does not use their resources, but cowers behind their supposed lack of desire to read. That leads to taking other people's words as gospel and never being able to form your own opinion. That is a crime and a damn shame. Your mind will go to waste if it is not continually stimulated.
All that to say this, I love books. I have more books right now than I will read. (Although some of those are Heather's) Reading opens your mind up to different viewpoints, different opinions, different perspectives, different worlds. You do yourself a disservice if you do not continually turn the page.
Anyway, read, it's good for you.
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