Oh, let us count the ways.
While there are innumerable reasons that I'm passionate about reading, one of the biggest ones is the impact that I believe it can have on us as humans, and on society as a whole.
"Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss."
— Nora Ephron, I Feel Bad About My Neck
Let's admit it: we're not the best version of ourselves when we're stressed. We've all said or done things we shouldn't have during stressful moments in our lives, and maybe we ended up hurting those around us. I know I have, and I'm not proud of that.
Obviously, we're going to encounter stress in our lives. However, as responsible adults, it's up to us to figure out ways to eliminate or manage that stress.
For me, it's reading. Reading allows me to escape into a whole other world and forget about reality. I can even take on someone else's fictional problems for a while and leave my own behind, and that feels incredibly freeing—and I know that I'm not the only one. So, if you're a book lover who uses reading as a way to escape and unwind, congrats! You're coping with your stress in a healthy way, and are likely kinder to others because of it.
If you're not a reader, but you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and taking out your anxiety and frustration on others (whether intentionally or not), maybe this is your sign to curl up with a physical, digital, or audio book, and simply check out of reality for a while. The difference it makes can be profound.
Reading makes us better people simply because it helps us to manage our stress levels, giving us better mental clarity and balance throughout the whirlwind of our daily lives.
"Stories cannot demolish frontiers, but they can punch holes in our mental walls. And through those holes, we can get a glimpse of the other, and sometimes even like what we see."
— Elif Shafrak
Reading can drastically change how we view and interact with those around us.
Of course, there's a colossal array of nonfiction books about the world and the people around us, and I strongly recommend reading nonfiction if you want to deepen your knowledge of a particular subject.
However, even fictional stories have elements of truth that can improve our understanding of other people, places, cultures, religions, and so much more.
For example, if a book has a character with a disability (assuming the author did proper research and wrote a factual representation), you develop an awareness of that disability that you may not have had otherwise.
Or, reading a book that takes place in a completely different culture than your own (again, assuming that it was properly represented) can teach you about the beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles of that culture.
I could go on and on, but hopefully, you're beginning to see my point. If not, it's this: reading has the power to open our eyes to different worldviews, to different struggles faced by people all over the world, and it can help us to be more kind, compassionate, patient, and understanding of those around us—we just have to let it.
It teaches us that maybe we aren't so different from one another, after all.
"Stories can cross the barriers of time, past, present, and future, and allow us to experience the similarities between ourselves and through others, real and imagined."
—Andrew Stanton
In a similar fashion, reading can broaden our knowledge of history and give us newfound wisdom to create a better future. This is a topic that I've touched on before, but I believe it's worth saying again.
Obviously, this is another case where nonfiction is a great option, but don't underestimate the power of (accurate) historical fiction. These stories can help us relate to what it may have been like to live through some of the most important events and periods to date. This is a great way to gain perspective on the good parts of history, but especially the bad. Those are the stories that most deserve to be told, but often, are dismissed and swept under the rug, particularly in schools.
The more we understand these events and periods in history, how they impacted people, and especially the "who, how, and why" behind them, the more likely we are to prevent similar things from happening in the future.
Reading equips us with the tools and knowledge to form educated opinions, make better informed decisions, and stand up for what we believe is right.
"Every book begins and ends with other people- the readers who suggest the book to us and encourage us to read it, the talented author who crafted each word, the fascinating individuals we meet inside the pages- and the readers we discuss and share the book with when we finish."
—Donalyn Miller
Last but certainly not least, reading can drastically change our friendships.
When you read, and your friends read, you'll notice that conversations rarely focus on inconsequential things like gossip, celebrities, and social media. Instead, you'll find yourselves discussing the books you've read and are planning to read, and constantly adding new ones to your TBR list. You can unpack the meanings behind your recent reads, such as theories to unanswered questions or what you learned from the story.
Reading gets your creative juices flowing like nothing else, especially when you're able to discuss your thoughts and ideas with others. From there, you may be inspired to start your next big project, find a solution to a problem, or work towards a new goal for your future.
If you're a reader and you don't have any reader friends, it's time to make some!
Now, by that, I don't necessarily mean go out and make new friends (although, that's a good option, too). Instead, try recommending a book or two to a close friend you already have. It may take a bit of convincing, and obviously, make sure it's a book you think they'll enjoy, but try to talk them into it.
If you're not a reader, but you have friends that are, ask them to recommend a book for you.
Then, simply come together and discuss!
Reading can elevate friendships and conversations from trivial to life-changing for everyone involved.
"Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant, and interesting."
— Aldous Huxley
I hope that this was informative, inspiring, or at least somewhat thought-provoking, and if you've read this far, I definitely want to hear your thoughts!
Be sure to join me on Discord, where myself and other book lovers discuss our reads and aim to inspire one another every day.
Thank you so much for reading, and be sure to stick around, maybe even subscribe to my email list, because I have lots of fun book reviews and discussions planned for the future—possibly even your recommendations!
'•.¸♡ Here's to being better humans! ♡¸.•'