The distractions and excuses are varied and vast, and are growing exponentially, when it come to reading books. The summer reading book list, was the bane of my existence during high school summers, when the order of the day was, "fun, fun, fun, till daddy took the T-bird away". The reading list seems to have gone the way of so many good practices in high school, under today's school management principle, "if it is working well, cut it out". I work with many young men who think it odd, that on my break I pull out a book, and seem not only engrossed in the book, but actually appear to be enjoying the book. When I ask if someone has read a popular title, I get a variety of responses from,"I have never read a book" to "why would anyone read a book, they are boring"

When I was a child I would rather read read a comic book or play a board game. I put off my summer reading until late August and then hoped I could get a copy of Cliff Notes or Classic Comics, to get some idea of what I should have read, prior to the new school year. In my effort to take a short cut, I would read something interesting enough to get me to actually pick up a book and see what all the "hoop-la" was about. Great books, books that stood the test of time, and for a very good reason, was what all the excitement was about, and I was missing out on amazing stories and adventures. To my pleasant surprise I enjoyed, really enjoyed, some of the books I was required to read. What a surprise, I learned a valuable lesson that has stayed with me all my life, contempt prior to investigation only hurts me, and my quality of life.

Reading has one huge advantage over film, my imagination. When I get in the "zone" and lose myself in a good book, my imagination can do what no film or enhanced computer generated graphics can do, create a world unique to my imagination. I don't watch a character, I become a character, and I am not watching a film, with a book, I am living in the story of the book. I feel more deeply the plight of characters, because a book is able to create greater character development. I am caught in the intrigue of events, because a book can explore so many more avenues of depth. A film would never be able to accomplish the layers of betrayal, or the heights of love, that characters from famous literary works are known. This is due to the unbridled freedom a writer has to explore his story, and develop his characters. With a book, the author is not confined by time constraints, nor the necessity to move the main plot forward, without getting too complicated.

I believe it is our obligation to write, and continue to read. We should make every effort to challenge young people to read. A goal to engage future generations in the value of books, through our own excitement, is the least we can do. The value of mental stimulation, the value of positive time spent in the search of the human condition, and the value of social interaction and communication, are reasons to be excited. How better can society grow and learn, then from one person sharing in detail his trials and tribulations from choices he made, interactions he had; how all of us learn and sometimes identify with these authors, who selflessly give of themselves, to share or entertain so many people who love to read.

Learn more about this author, Robert Mckenna.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Essays: Reading a book vs. watching a movie?
We want to hear your view. Write now!