The Importance Of Reading

WHY WE READ:

The reasons, why people read, are just as numerous as the genres of books we find on the shelves of libraries and book stores. From the Bible to Shakespeare, from science fiction to technical specs. We read in order to educate ourselves, to learn about a specific subject, to meet job requirements and, of course, for pure enjoyment. But why is reading really so important?

HISTORY OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE:

Thousands of years ago certain civilizations like the old Egyptians, Babylonians and Greeks had already developed a written language. Everywhere we have found written language having been integrated into culture, we have also found an extensive wealth of technology more advanced than we would normally imagine.
Centuries ago, in the northern hemisphere, not many people were able to read. Back then society seemed to be split into basically 3 categories: The rich, the working class and the clergy. Out of these three groups, the one that was the most literate, was the clergy. Monks would translate the bible and write letters. Priests and bishops, cardinals and popes read sermons from written manuscripts. The clergy intermingled with the rich, who, while acquiring the knowledge of written language for themselves, once they realized what power it held, kept it secret from the working class. Without that knowledge, they figured, they'd be able to keep their ruling positions. To keep someone dumb, unable to think for themselves made those who lacked the knowledge dependent on those who ruled them.
When the Gutenberg press was invented, suddenly books could be mass-produced and a need to read swept the nations.

Today, society has embraced reading as a tool of gaining unlimited power of mind and develops faster and faster towards a yet unknown state of self-realization.

THE PROBLEM OF ILLITERACY:

I think the importance of reading becomes most evident when you look at the things we can't do well or not at all without being able to read!

For example:

a) Learn new things from books
b) Follow recipes when cooking
c) Read maps and follow some traffic signs
d) Comprehend all kinds of instructions and information provided in owner's manuals
e) Use computers
f) Use Email/communicate in written form
g) Fulfill requirements of most well-paying jobs
h) Read the newspaper
i) Read food and product labels
j) Help your kids with homework

These are just a few of the important things most people, me included, do every day. It must be a very difficult and sad life when you are not able to do those things. Don't you think?

CONCLUSION:

If there is one skill worth learning, it is reading. Today, you cannot really afford not being able to read, and reading is the one thing that allows you to learn more about virtually anything; without actually experiencing it.

Words, comprised of letters and sentences comprised of words, books comprised of sentences - they all bring pictures, stories, events and emotions to life in our minds and help us to comprehend things that would otherwise remain unknown to us.

I find, that reading is the skill that brings knowledge that can enable a poor person to gain riches, the thing that sets apart civilization from mere existence; a well of inspiration and the gateway to an enjoyable, prosperous and abundant life! There's nothing more important, that you can chose to teach someone, than reading. Reading, indeed, is more than just important. It is imperative!

Learn more about this author, Petra Sando.
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