Happy is the man who acquires the habit of reading when he is young. He has secured a life-long source of pleasure, instruction and inspiration. So long as he has his beloved books, he need never feel lonely. He always has a pleasant occupation of leisure moments, so that he need never feel bored. He is the possessor of wealth more precious than gold. Ruskin calls books “Kings’ Treasures” – treasuries filled, not with gold and silver and precious stones, but with riches much more valuable than these – knowledge, noble thoughts and high ideals.
The blessings which the reading habit confers on its possessor are many prodded we choose the right kind of books. Reading gives the highest kind of pleasure. Some books we read simply for pleasure and amusement-for example, good novels, and books of imagination must have their place in everybody’s reading, When we are tired, or the brain is weary with serious study, it is a healthy recreation to lose ourselves in some absorbing story written by a master hand.
There are many noble books on history, biography, philosophy, religion, travel, and science which we ought to read, and which will give us not only pleasure but an education. And we can develop a taste for serious reading, so that in the end it will give us more solid pleasure than even novels and books of fiction. Nor should poetry be neglected, for the best poetry gives us noble thoughts and beautiful imaginings clothed in lovely and musical language.
Reading newspapers and magazines like India Today, Outlook helps us be aware of the national social and economic issues as well as the international matters. It thus connects us to the world and serves as an excellent mode of communication. Reading books like Readers’ Digest helps us increase our vocabulary and thus improve our language skills.
Books are not just a vast sea of knowledge but developing the habit of reading instills in us various virtues like concentration, patience, and other good morals which each book has to teach us. Also, reading keeps us busy in a healthy way and thus channelizes our energy and time to reap positive benefits.
Nowadays, the growing number of book stores and public libraries which are stacked with a wide range of books, journals and magazines facilitate reading on a large scale. This thus promotes the habit of reading among the masses. Books are the most faithful of friends. It is very rightly said that books are an abode of knowledge, virtues, and selfless guidance. No wonder a reader becomes a “book-lover.”
