Why should I waste my time reading?

My answer is that it makes me a better writer.  A well-written book helps me discover new writing techniques.  A poorly written one teaches me what not to do.

Reading can also help me to be educated on any given subject.  In this age of technology, there’s no end to the things I can read about with a simple Google search.

And reading good fiction helps me to relax.  A good book occupies my mind, drawing me into a different place and introducing me to new friends that I am often sad to leave behind when I finish.  It helps me to put into perspective the trials and tribulations that often occupy my mind in the real world.

But enough about me … why do you read?  Or do you really feel that reading is just a waste of time? Drop me an answer in the comments below.

What does science say about reading?

Scientific studies give us 3 major reasons we should read more every day.

1. According to a 2009 study done at the University of Sussex and reported in The Telegraph, reading for just 6 minutes per day can reduce stress levels by as much as 68%.
2. A 2013 Harvard study conducted by David Kidd showed that readers of literary fiction are more likely to express empathy and understand the complexity of individuals.
3. Keith Oatley, a University of Toronto psychologist, helped to author a study that concluded reading can help you transform as a person.

This is by far not an exhaustive list.  Many other studies support the benefits of making reading a daily habit.

Why do some people dislike reading?

I believe at its roots this is a commitment issue.

There are days when I have little use for a book of fiction.  My brain is craving good, solid knowledge.  I long for free time to just surf the internet and see what I can learn.  Each tidbit discovered takes me on to the next, until I’m so far down that rabbit hole that I don’t remember where or why I started.

Some people will ravenously read magazines or newspapers, gleaning all sorts of information on their path from one article to another.  But those same people will not pick up a book on a bet.  Why?  Commitment.  The magazine can be read in little chunks, easily allowing pauses for things like lunch and bathroom breaks and work.  That book will require hours to complete and there will undoubtedly come a point where the reader must put it down unfinished to return to the demands of living.  The reader will be unsatisfied with the incompleteness.

All writers love to read.  Book Oblivion has a very good post that shares the thoughts of famous writers on reading.

I have mad respect for the writing of Edgar Allen Poe.  He paints pictures with his words that are extremely vivid.  And no one’s writing quite measures up to Stephen King.  The problem is – both those authors are a little too dark for me.  I’m not into being scared.  If you are, then grab some of their work and dive in.

Personally, I have always loved to read books.  I remember discovering The Wind in the Willows when I was very young.  Probably found it on the bookmobile.  (Remember those?)  And I think I’ve read every Nancy Drew book ever written.

One of my favorites is still Gone With the Wind.  It’s over 1000 pages, and I think I’ve read it at least 3 times.  Margaret Mitchell has such a way with words that it just sucks you right in.  The task seems daunting to read it cover to cover, but come on … what else do you have to do right now?  It’s become quite controversial, because it is said that the book romanticizes slavery and the antebellum South.  Well, maybe.  I’ll let you decide when you read it.

On a more contemporary note, I enjoy Nicholas Sparks as well.  He’ll tug at your conscience, and always rewards with a satisfying ending, if not a happy one.  Of course, The Notebook is everyone’s favorite of his stories.

 

You can find both these books on Amazon, or there are versions out there for your Kindle reader as well.

I spent quite a bit of time reading scientific information on COVID-19 during lockdown, specifically how to keep essential workers and the people who live with them as safe as possible.  Knowledge is power in the war against pandemic panic. Or any other war, for that matter. This is especially true for those of us who wrestle with anxiety on a good day, let alone on a day full of fear and uncertainty.  You can find a good list of resources on the CDC website.

Just a hint here, though — be sure your sources are reliable.  A good journalist will not report something as truth unless it can be verified through at least 3 independent sources.  In this electronic age, it is too easy for anyone with a computer to put things on the internet that just aren’t true.

I’ve also spent some time recently learning more about our country’s founding fathers and the nation’s birth.  The picture painted in our mainstream history books glosses over or in some cases leaves out completely some important contributions to our history. So I’ve been trying to catch up on the details.  A good place to start is Burke Davis’ “Black Heroes of the American Revolution” if you just want to catch up on the players.

What’s my dirty little secret?

Shhh – don’t tell anyone, but a good romance novel has been my guilty pleasure since high school.  Amazon Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans give me all the choices I need to find new titles to read.  And it’s cheap, which is important to me!

I’ve also been working hard on my own debut novel. Watch for details here in my blog and on my website!