by Michael King

Created on: January 12, 2010

Reading is the source of all knowledge, intellect and imagination. Not true. However, it is an incredibly good start, studies have proven that children who grow up surrounded by books are more likely to be intelligent. Unfortunately this doesn't necessarily mean that it is the books that have made them this way. It's more likely the reason that they are surrounded by books, more often then not these children also have intelligent parents that genetically and environmentally stimulate learning.

However, it is my honest opinion that books are the highest form from which to obtain knowledge, non-fiction of course. Internet articles are fantastic for snippets of information, like the importance of reading, but the true knowledge is to be sourced eventually to a good piece of literature. The study of books is endless, as books themselves, but greatly rewarding to anyone who may wish to be themselves intelligent or wish it upon their children.

But, books don't simply cater to the inquisitive mind for knowledge, they also aspire to bring us adventure, or love, the wildest depths of our fantasy. For non-fiction is educating, fiction is stimulating. Some say that equal entertainment can be gained from films and television, but simply this is only true in principle, not in range. A great film that can inspire the soul is a rare stroke of genius. A book that inspires a young child to a great career is fortunately commonplace. Should the child have the right book and inclination to read it, of course.

I realised, as a young person, that most of my social education rested from films and television. That when I dreamed I dreamed of lives that resembled the characters of Ocean's Eleven or Two and Half Men. Until I found reading, when the aforementioned range of literary genius kicked in. Books have the ability not only to inspire the mind, but also dissuade it from foolish action. Books have the range to teach counter-arguments to the naive fantasies of others. Coral Island can teach us that life on desert islands could be a dream, but Lord of the Flies is suitable enough to bring reason to the fore and prevent any deliberate recreations in the future.

In conclusion, reading is a pleasure, a stimulant and a force of reason in a reckless world. Books can render to a well rounded individual, they can further the depth of the mind's thought and open that same mind to new ideas. A man without books as a passion is certainly not all they can be.

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