Last month, Christina DesMarais wrote why we should read. Take a look at her article. It’s short — and eye-opening.
Today, I’m going to riff on her points.
Want to Be Open-Minded and Creative?
Then you need to be reading fiction. A study by the University of Toronto revealed that short story readers were essentially more open-minded than essay readers. Why? Because fiction encourages you to think and ponder. It stimulates the imagination. Lets you wander outside your box.
Much fiction, even much commercial fiction, is at base philosophy. The author is exploring different world views or philosophical questions — all disguised as a story.
Fiction sows the seeds for reflective thought. And in our current environment where people no longer dialogue, reflective thought can challenge some of our dearest and most cherished assumptions. And possibly re-open those dialogues.
Want to Live Longer?
If you do, then read a book. A Yale study found that book readers 50 and older lived nearly 2 years longer than non-readers or magazine readers.
Reading books develops thinking skills and concentration, as well as improving vocabulary. And a greater vocabulary allows one more nuanced verbal expression.
Reading a book for at least 30 minutes a day creates cognitive engagement. In other words, it gets your brain active. And many studies have shown that a key to defeating dementia and ill health in old age is to be mentally active. Reading helps us do that.
Improves Your Writing Skills
Whether you write on paper or type on your laptop, if you want to improve your ability to communicate by the real or virtual page then you need to read.
Reading a wide array of literature exposes us to different metaphors, allusions, words, illustrations, styles. All of which can enrich your own.
If you are looking to express yourself better on the page, then read a book.
Reduces Stress
And who doesn’t want to do that?
Reading takes us into other worlds. And because we have to create the images of the fictional world in our mind, it takes us out of our present situation and transports us someplace else. By doing so, we get our mind off of our troubles for a little while. And that is good for our health.
Reading Provides Entertainment
Reading is an age-old means of entertainment that you can enjoy by yourself or with others. Reading a book with your family or a loved one is a fabulous way to spend time together.
It’s convenient too. Just open the book and you are there. Just turn on your e-reader or tablet and you are ready for fun.
What’s more, a book allows for interactive entertainment in a way a movie or TV show doesn’t. You can pause and reflect on a scene. Argue with the author. Discuss with a friend. All this can be done far easier with a book, than with video.
But I Don’t Have Time to Read
Actually, you probably do. As with anything in life, it depends on what you value. Those things you value, you do. So look at what you are doing. If what you are doing is so important it can’t be set aside, okay. And if those important things fill up every hour of your waking day, then they must be important.
However, I seriously doubt you don’t have wasted time in your day. Time spent in idle chit-chat. Time spent staring at your phone. I don’t have a smart phone. I find it difficult to imagine what the heck is so mesmerizing about those darn phones.
Then there is time spent in commuting to work. What do you do in the bus or train or car pool?
Even at just 30 minutes a day, it’s possible to read a book a week. I know that sounds impossible, but it really isn’t. Try it. Pick out 3 books. Assign each book to a week, and dedicate 30 minutes a day to reading it.
If you find that you don’t read fast enough, and some of us don’t, I’m a rather slow reader, don’t worry. Simply set aside 2 weeks to read the book. After all, that’s what the library gives you.
The point is to read each day something you enjoy. It can be poetry, short stories, essays, novels, non-fiction. What you read doesn’t matter as much as reading. Although I’d recommend a mix. Remember variety is the spice of life. And no spice = bland.
Those Who Don’t Read
The Pew Research Center discovered that 26% of American adults did not read even a part of a book in the past year.
That is a ghastly statistic.
As the number of non-readers increases, so does the number of violent acts. Are they related? That would make for a very interesting study.
At the very least, we are growing a population less prone to think, less likely to live longer, and less likely to have good mental health.
What Do I Read?
That’s easy: whatever you want! But mix it up, as noted above.
I read a lot of non-fiction while researching when writing my novels and stories. Consequently, I tend to focus on reading fiction. And I also happen to enjoy fiction more than non-fiction. I also read poetry on occasion.
I’m also partial to today’s indie authors and authors of the past. Undoubtedly, you have your own favorites — even if you don’t know them yet.
Years ago I worked in a library. The head librarian was a mystery lover and one day we were talking about mysteries. I said I liked Sherlock Holmes, but otherwise wasn’t all that interested in mysteries.
She took me over to the bookshelves and handed me a volume of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe. I took it home and read it. It was love at first read. I never looked back.
Today, I find myself reading lots of mysteries. Thank you Marilyn Gray for a lifetime of splendid enjoyment.
Here are a few authors I happen to like. They write well and are very imaginative. Just click on the name to go to their Amazon page.
Rex Stout wrote the incomparable Nero Wolfe mysteries, and other genres in his early days.
You can also check out my Facebook page where I post on Mondays the Book of the Week.
Comments are always welcome. Until next time, happy reading!
