The imporTance of reading in our lives.......
In the past, literacy rates were
minimal, and it was only the wealthy that
were able to indulge in the pleasure of reading a book. It was in 1476, when printing was
introduced, that literacy rates and books became more widespread.
In our modern society, we have a
huge array of books to read, from the humble
books which help us to read to the latest crime
thriller. It is true to say that books have been
imbedded in our lives. However, the number
of people who read regularly is decreasing.
Children and adults alike are spending excessive amounts of time hypnotised by their
television, instead of delving into the literary world. It is true that television and video
games are entertaining, but the pleasure that
comes from reading is irreplaceable.
You may be wondering what the benefits
of reading are. In fact, there are numerous
benefits to reading, and in this article I hope
to describe some of them to you.
One of the main benefits of reading
is the impact it has on our brains. Through
reading, we can increase the strength of our
brain. The connections between neurons are
strengthened in our brain when our brain
undergoes activities that are mentally stimulating, such as reading. Furthermore, reading
relaxes our brain. Activities such as watching television are surprisingly stressful for
our brain, owing to the constant movement
of images, flashing colours and noise. This
mental benefit can result in a person having
KEVIN ANIL THOMAS
higher concentration levels and it can improve
memory.
When a pers on is really interested in
a story or novel, they are sucked into the book.
You may imagine you are the protagonist in
the story and that you are a part of the events
which are unfolding. By reading we can also
develop our empathy, as we are thinking like
another person so we become aware of other
people’s feelings. For example, through novels such as Slum Dog Millionaire, we come to
comprehend what the life of a person living in
an Indian slum is like.
Undoubtedly, reading will increase
our imagination, and one will be able to think
more widely and face problems with unique
solutions if they read. Creativity is something
that is vital in our lives, and it is something
that many people lack; reading can ignite the
latent creativity of a person. When reading a
book, the reader can make assumptions and
have their own interpretations of what a character is like. This is something that is unique
to reading and nothing can provide an experience like it.
Practice makes perfect. The same
is true for literacy. By reading a wide variety
of books we can develop and improve our literacy. By reading different types of genres, one
can be able to write in a different way, as influenced by their reading. Especially for children
and students this is a major benefit. Almost all
subjects at school and education require Eng-
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