Why I Am an Enthusiastic Reader: A Journey into Learning and Imagination
How often have you heard someone describe themselves as a voracious reader? To me, the term sounds rather aggressive. Instead, I simply describe myself as someone who loves to read. Reading for me is an activity engaged with great enthusiasm and eagerness. Let me elaborate why this is so.
My Early Experiences with Reading
My journey with books started long before I can truly recall. It all began with my grandmother, a true advocate for the power of reading. She never got over the fact that in America, one could visit a library, check out books, read them to their heart’s content, and then return them, ready to check out more. This accessibility was a revelation for her and it quickly became a cherished ritual for us – making the crosstown trip to the library at least twice a week until I was old enough to venture there on my own.
The public library came to symbolize America for her, and similarly instilled in me a deep appreciation for the power of knowledge. I have continued this tradition with my own children and grandchildren, albeit with a slight modern twist. For instance, my youngest children often accompanied me to Soho to explore the charming secondhand bookstores and then to the Strand, where browsing became a joyful pastime, a nod to Andrew Carnegie and his visionary philanthropic efforts.
The Transformative Power of Words
Reading has become more than just a habit for me. It’s a means of exploring new terrains, meeting people, and experiencing situations that I might never encounter in real life. Whether it's the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940, the Mississippi of the 1950s as depicted by Faulkner, or the adventures in Green Hills of Africa by Hemingway, my books have brought me to places and times beyond my reach.
One of the greatest benefits of reading is the escape it offers. Just as movies, long drives, amusement parks, or any form of entertainment can help us detach from our reality, books provide a unique type of escape and immersion into a different reality. Through the pages of a meticulously researched book, I can expand my knowledge and gain insights into the lives of people and places vastly different from my own experiences.
Moreover, reading promotes understanding and empathy. It exposes us to diverse perspectives and helps us navigate interactions within and across different cultures and eras. This is particularly valuable in today's interconnected world, where an understanding of others is crucial for global harmony and progress.
An Unending Quest for Knowledge
Ultimately, my love for reading stems from an insatiable desire to know. I want to know anything and everything. With a limited amount of time in this life, I endeavor to make the most of it by learning as much as I can from the vast universe of texts available to me. Whether traveling to 80 countries or experiencing historical events that I have not personally witnessed, my books have been my portal to the world and its myriad wonders.
For me, investing in a TV, an iPhone, an iPad, a laptop, or any other modern gadget is not as fulfilling as having access to the universe via my books. These devices are undoubtedly useful, but they cannot match the transformative power of the word as carried by the printed page or eBook.