How many of my readers have enjoyed a pleasant afternoon with a good book? Ok, and how many of you check Facebook at least once a day? When I ask the majority of my friends what they've read lately, most reply sarcastically, "Why read?" It saddens me to think about the future and of kids missing out on all of the joys of reading to be exposed only to electronics.
I think reading is important on so many levels. Let's start with the therapeutic angle. I can't count how many times as a child I read a book to escape the real world and all of its stresses. To be in another time or place, living out some character's life and story. To walk away from the book after reading and look at your real-world problems with fresh insight and a positive attitude.
Next, let's look at the educational angle. It has been scientifically proven that students who read at least five minutes a day or more have improved spelling, grammar, vocabulary and higher test scores then those who don't. I also like to think that creativity and imagination are vastly improved and encouraged with the help of books and reading.
Don't get me wrong I have a love for technology and various media outlets like movies and television. However, I think it's important that reading a book for pleasure's sake isn't lost or forgotten in the frenzied pace of ever-improving computers and technology. I just finished a wonderful fantasy series by Laurell K. Hamilton. What have you read lately?
That was an awesome post, I agree with you 100%. Right now I'm reading "Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing" and the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. It's too bad people don't read much anymore, it's amazing :)
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