IMPORTANCE OF READING BOOKS / DURBA MITRA

 The current generation is accused of being absurdly suffering from ANAGNOSMAPHOBIA- the fear of reading for multi - various reasons. We, the elders can not rinse out our hands to place the ball to the youngsters’ court. It is our primary responsibility as the parents / teachers / care givers – to make them understand the true value of a good book. We keep on shelling out lots of money for gadgets, mall-shopping, multiplex-hopping, eating out regularly –  at the same time we should imbibe the habit of taking them to good libraries and quaint book shops regularly.

Visiting the BOOK-FAIR once a year does not suffice!

We should take up the onus of discussing about books in our day to day conversation.

I had lined up some pointers here to converse about the IMPORTANCE OF READING BOOKS.   

Reading books improve vocabulary. Books improve our communication skills. Books help students or to express thoughts in a speech that required lots of words in the vocabulary. The more we read the newer words our brain start gaining new words and adding into the vocabulary folder of your brain.

"Books are the most quiet and lasting friends, the easiest to reach, the wisest counsellors and the most patient teachers." 

Charles W. Eliot

10 LONG LASTING ADVANTAGES OF READING BOOKS: -

1.          Reading reduces stress

When we read, we are still. We get comfortable. Most people sit while reading. Our bodies do not carry any special movements, they rest. The breathing slows down. We calm down. We imagine ourselves the worlds or situations described by words in the book. While reading we cannot think of other tasks or worries. Because of all this reasons reading does reduce stress.

2. Reading help us build a better vocabulary

It has been proven that book readers have a richer vocabulary, so for them easier to find the best expression for all that they want to tell others. In general, the more you read, the richer your vocabulary gets. Furthermore, books are definitely a treasure trove of knowledge!

3. Reading stimulates imagination

We are limited only to the extent to which our imagination is limited. When we read about unknown places, our mind itself creates the imaginative images in our heads, rather than simply saving images from small screens in memory. Thus, the imagination and creativity of our minds are being strengthened by reading.

4. Reading lights up new ideas

Reading encourages us to think. Sometimes, we even start dreaming based on the content we read. In addition, reading gives us new perspectives, that the reader may not even have thought of itself! Thus, through reading, we get new ideas and inspiration, so that we ourselves may try something new or different, inspired the things we read.

5. Reading improves focus and concentration

While reading, we concentrate on the thoughts of the story or whatever is the content of the book. We usually read longer than we do other tasks. Unlike other activities, we do not run parallel thoughts or "other movies" in our heads while reading. The longer we read, the more concentrated we are. Learning requires concentration, and for this reason, reading books for fun and relaxation is an investment in one's ability to concentrate and it's consequently, a basis for successful learning.

6. Reading improves your memory

While reading, we usually have more time to think about the things we just read. Reading books offers us the opportunity to stop and take the moment to rethink or reflect on the content we just read. This is not possible during a movie or when listening to the radio.

7. Reading improves our language skills

Reading in a foreign language does require more effort at the beginning, but it is makes our vocabulary richer. To understand the written, we sometimes need to translate parts of it, sometimes we need to find a word in the dictionary, but sometimes we can understand what is going on just from the context. In any case, reading in a foreign language is another way to enrich our vocabulary and a way we can enhance learning a foreign language. Of course, the text must be an appropriate to the level of the reader's language knowledge. Children have a gift for early language learning - they can pick up the foreign language by listening to it, which is another reason to start early language learning through reading to your child from the multilingual  books.

8. Reading gives us new knowledge

It is true that what we experience gives us best impression, but it is impossible in everyday life to be everywhere and to try out everything. Humans are the only species on Earth that can transmit information and knowledge over a distance and over several generations. A written language separates us from all other species! It enabled us to transfer knowledge rapidly and allows us to develop faster, which in the era of technological progress already exceeds the limits of imagination. So, we've been evolving for thousands of years by reading!

9. Reading makes you smarter

Books are a real treasure trove of data and new knowledge and are much cheaper than courses and education. We become more intelligent by reading books, more interesting and appealing. By reading you will become better in communication, you will improve your knowledge on various topics as well as rhetorical skills.

In addition to all of the above, there is another extremely important reading effect:

10. ENTERTAINMENT!

With all the benefits that come with reading, the book can be an ideal gift for any occasion!

Well, I have seen that some sort of competition going around the social media about posting the front cover of your favourite book for 7 days.

I had failed to see school or college students pick up the trend gleefully.

My appeal is to all my friends to build up the reading habits in the young minds rather than scolding them for the lack of it.