The Power of Reading: Part I
Reading is empowerment. We gain knowledge through reading. Knowledge is essential in learning. Inarguably, those who are learned are also those who contribute a great deal of their time to reading. Nowadays, we can find a lot of reading materials. We have the traditional books and magazines and also, numerous articles and writings on the Internet.
Reading is not only a process one has to go through in order to be informed, but it also indirectly influences the way we think and shapes our worldview.
Perspectives
As we read more books, we will learn to adapt to different types of perspectives. We will realize that we are not cocooned in a box, and the world is bigger than what we originally thought. We will learn to incorporate our views with that of other people’s and fit their descriptions and characters into our perception of the world. What we have seen growing up in our little, protected bubble is definitely unmatched by the greater imageries and realities abound in the world. Our thinking begins to mature as we move on from having a single idea of our environment and who we are as a person towards embracing a myriad other different ideas. A lot of things are opened up to us and we are able to see much clearer the truths in some previously hazy areas. Questions are raised, voices sounded out in the demand to be heard—and through all of this, we feel indubitably alive and involved. For those who seek meaning in their existence or lives, this is surely a journey of finding oneself. I believe that reading compels your horizon to stretch further—which, combined with travelling, is a great practice to experience the world and enhance your outlook on things.
Contrary to some people’s opinions, reading novels is not a waste of time. Novels are mostly fictional stories, a product of the author’s imagination—but it carries a message and this is echoed throughout the book. The author’s ideas and principles are laid bare in each page of their book, and through this they seek to convey what they see through their own eyes to the reader. The classics are priceless gems—they represent thinking and understanding, written in rich historical context and imbued with the spirit of the times. Reading these books allows you to experience the world through the author’s eyes and you are presented with different ways of looking at things, unique and particular to each person. Novels let you embrace the greater part of the world and make you feel involved in the events unfolding in the book. Besides being an exciting and inebriated ride, it instils the understanding that the world consists of so much more than you and you, and that you are also part of the world. It will make you more perceptive to changes as you will learn to imbibe all the positive things you gain including the morals and ideas presented in the book. This is an opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn something. However, one should be warned that he or she can be rationalised by what he or she reads. We must avoid this type of rationalisation because we need to be aware of our own choices and decisions. We need to read more books so that we can compare and contrast the information we get from every source and subsequently be able to reach our own, individual conclusion.
Reading is not only a process one has to go through in order to be informed, but it also indirectly influences the way we think and shapes our worldview.
Perspectives
As we read more books, we will learn to adapt to different types of perspectives. We will realize that we are not cocooned in a box, and the world is bigger than what we originally thought. We will learn to incorporate our views with that of other people’s and fit their descriptions and characters into our perception of the world. What we have seen growing up in our little, protected bubble is definitely unmatched by the greater imageries and realities abound in the world. Our thinking begins to mature as we move on from having a single idea of our environment and who we are as a person towards embracing a myriad other different ideas. A lot of things are opened up to us and we are able to see much clearer the truths in some previously hazy areas. Questions are raised, voices sounded out in the demand to be heard—and through all of this, we feel indubitably alive and involved. For those who seek meaning in their existence or lives, this is surely a journey of finding oneself. I believe that reading compels your horizon to stretch further—which, combined with travelling, is a great practice to experience the world and enhance your outlook on things.
Contrary to some people’s opinions, reading novels is not a waste of time. Novels are mostly fictional stories, a product of the author’s imagination—but it carries a message and this is echoed throughout the book. The author’s ideas and principles are laid bare in each page of their book, and through this they seek to convey what they see through their own eyes to the reader. The classics are priceless gems—they represent thinking and understanding, written in rich historical context and imbued with the spirit of the times. Reading these books allows you to experience the world through the author’s eyes and you are presented with different ways of looking at things, unique and particular to each person. Novels let you embrace the greater part of the world and make you feel involved in the events unfolding in the book. Besides being an exciting and inebriated ride, it instils the understanding that the world consists of so much more than you and you, and that you are also part of the world. It will make you more perceptive to changes as you will learn to imbibe all the positive things you gain including the morals and ideas presented in the book. This is an opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn something. However, one should be warned that he or she can be rationalised by what he or she reads. We must avoid this type of rationalisation because we need to be aware of our own choices and decisions. We need to read more books so that we can compare and contrast the information we get from every source and subsequently be able to reach our own, individual conclusion.
to be continued...
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