by Austin Moore

Created on: June 03, 2009   Last Updated: June 27, 2009

Some people just can't grasp how important reading is. I will never understand the people that will never pick up a book or a magazine or even read a short story. They claim it's because they don't have a long enough attention span to read a book, that they'll get bored. Oh, I've heard all the excuses in the book, which is kinda ironic in itself, isn't it? Seriously though, some of these excuses don't even make sense; I've gotten past these so called "difficulties" with reading, so why can't everyone else?

"I don't know some of the words, so I can't understand it."

This is malarky, for want of a better word. Sure, there will always be words that you don't understand in books. But don't you understand? That's why we read! To learn new words and phrases, ones that we will one day be able to use in common conversation. All you have to do is figure out what the word means from the context it is used in, piece of cake. That's how people with such large vocabularies come about, you know. They have read so many books, and learned so many new words, that they're like a walking dictionary.

I know, I've met some people like that, and I'm even on my way to becoming one myself. There's nothing I love more than figuring out a word, and immediately using it correctly in a conversation. It makes me feel smart, and I'll admit, I like to show off like that every once in a while; everyone does. So why deprive yourself of an awesome opportunity to show off your brain a bit? There's no reason for it, except to remain ignorant just to spite the people that say reading is important.

"The story wasn't interesting enough, It couldn't keep my attention."

What are you, four? It doesn't matter if the story is the worst thing ever written since the dawn of time; if there is any plot whatsoever, you can make it interesting. All you have to do is use your imagination, for goodness sakes! Imagination is the key to reading and the more you read, the larger and more powerful your imagination grows. That's why we start out with picture books as a child, because we can't visualize everything that's going on in the story.

However, as you get older, you'll find that you need less and less pictures in your stories, until finally you won't have them at all because you don't need them any more. Your brain is an incredible thing; it can make a bunch of pages with words on them become a magical world, full of fantasy and wonder. But if you never give it a chance, you'll never be able to experience it for yourself.

Yes, reading is important. In fact, you could say it's crucial to our overall development as educated human beings and it's our duty to read. So the next time you find yourself bored with nothing to do, pick up a book. It's good for you, I promise.

Learn more about this author, Austin Moore.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.