Reading a good book opens a window to the world that was previously inaccessible. Every book introduces new dimensions through the thoughts of the writer, where readers can draw their own assumptions and interpret the message in their unique way. Long before television and the internet, books captivated readers, allowing them to vividly imagine places and people they had never seen or met.
We pictured fire-breathing demons and the giant-sized Gulliver in the land of the Lilliputians. We read of Lord Ram shooting blazing arrows at Ravan’s army and imagined how Shankar must have hunted the lion in the Savannah. That’s the beauty of books. They stoke creativity and form colorful images in an idle mind.
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
Catch Them Young And Keep Them Hooked
The best time to introduce minds to the world of story and picture books is when they are young. Children and young adults, in their impressionable years, benefit most from this endless, beautiful world. Their boundless imagination and appetite for knowledge make them perfect recipients of fiction, facts, and information.
“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.” – Descartes
We Make Friends With Characters And Feel For Them Like Our Own
A common debate among friends is: why read the book when you can watch the movie adaptation? While valid points exist on both sides, book lovers often argue, “We live the characters. We laugh with them, cry with them, and live and die with them. This bond is difficult to create in just two hours.” Still, stories need to be told, and no matter the medium, they must survive and be passed on.
Books : The Best Influence From The Past
“A Treatise of Human Nature,” a work in three volumes by David Hume, was an attempt to approach philosophy in a new way. This book profoundly influenced Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant scientific minds, who claimed it inspired some of his revolutionary theories.
Books like these play a vital role, even in ordinary lives. They are omnipresent across all spheres.
Want to Understand the Past – Society, Literature, Art, Culture? Get a Book
Feeling sick and stuck in bed? Don’t know how to pass the time? Grab a book.
Don’t know what to gift a child and want to inculcate good habits? There’s nothing like a book.
“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
When humans first invented reading and writing, it revolutionized life in ways we still cannot fully grasp. Books are records of time, ideas, society, art, imagination, and issues. They are lifelong friends.
In the last decade, print media has been overshadowed by mobile devices, the internet, and online streaming. This shift has its downsides, affecting our eyesight, ears, and attention spans.
Let us, this World Book Day, celebrate the joy of books and reading. Let’s bring back that familiar scene we grew up loving—a cup of hot tea or coffee on a winter morning, with an unputdownable book in hand.
Addendum
As a bonus, here are a few books that have left a lasting impression on me. I encourage readers to explore them at least once in their lifetime:
- Shesher Kabita – Rabindranath Tagore
- A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
- The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
- The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
- Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela
Manobina Nanda Ganguly
Manobina is a Computer Engineer by profession, working for over two decades. An avid reader since childhood, she loves reading both fictions and non fictions. She can be reached at manobina@gmail.com.
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