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Why Reading Books is Important

When I started writing this blog article I had to stop myself right away. My initial title was "Why Reading is Important", but what I really wanted to write this post about is why reading Books is important.  There are lots of other things we read that aren't books, like adds in the subway, social media posts, news articles written at the grade 6 level. 

And I am not saying that you shouldn't read these types of media or that there is no value there. There is no escaping that kind of reading, and I hope there is some value here for readers of this post.  That said, reading books is a different kettle of fish than reading a blog post written by some random guy on the internet.  Let me give you three good reasons why reading books is as important now as it has ever been. 



The Need to Disconnect

As society becomes more connected through non-traditional and electronic means, whether AI driven data streams, digital signboards, social media apps, computers, screens, screens screens, we are continually having our attention held and manipulated for growing periods of time. 

Reading allows us to take time for ourselves and disconnect from the digital onslaught that we face everywhere we go. It allows us to take a brief stand against the culture of distraction. And no its not meditation, or a device free yoga retreat. But I think the disengagement from the electronic hive really does give us the chance to practice the art of withdrawal in a deeply meaningful way. 

So if you can't meditate or find other ways to disconnect, then reading may be a great option for you. 

Slow Knowledge

I think we can all agree that a great deal of media today is designed to grab your attention and your clicks by making you angry. Very often, these bits of information are short, lack context, provide no arguments and just play to emotions.

I think it is pretty difficult for long form content to practice those kinds of dark arts. And the fact that your engagement is slow, considered, and off and on again over a period of time, generally lends itself to a slow an unemotional form of knowledge building.  Its pretty rare that a book can lead to spontaneous outbursts of anger. Yes, I know a book can make you laugh, cry or get upset but I think its just a different quality of emotion.



Reading Builds You

Perhaps the most cliche point that I can make, but I really do believe this and I think others are correct to believe it as well, but reading does and can build you into a better person. And yes there are bad books that create bad people, but generally that's just the internet and not books.

Reading can teach you knew skills, it can help you learn to feel empathy for others by putting you in their stories, it can warn you about the costs of ill-considered actions, it can connect you to the thoughts and experiences of people that lived 2000 years ago.

Truly, reading is one of the greatest tools to make your life more meaningful in this rudderless world we are living in. Maybe it can save you from the extremism I see everywhere.

Follow my reading journey on YouTube:  Reading Still Matters 


Great Source for Buying Books:

I often buy new books at a very good price from Book Outlet. As I understand it, Book Outlet sells overstock books received directly from new bookstores.  You can find a broad range of genres, publication dates as well as soft covers and hardcover. 

If you are interested in checking out Book Outlet, please follow my link. I don't get paid for referrals, but I can earn credits that are applicable to my own book orders. Help me read and review books so that you can avoid things or find things that are up your alley! 

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