5 reasons we should read more Literature!! (2 min read)

 

 

I have been an active reader since 4 years but this pandemic - Corona - has turned me into a voracious reader who has a list of books in queue before finishing the current one.

The more I am reading, I get the feeling, I should read more. I really wish I had started reading early (I am 30 now). Although there use to be a subject of Literature in my school days, but it was so difficult to grasp that it seemed totally unworthy. Now, I really wish there comes a structural change in schools regarding the kind of literature taught & the way it is taught.

 Anyways, coming back to my point, there are plenty of reasons to start reading literature. It’s been documented umpteenth number of times. Below are my top 5 reasons;

1. Academic books feel like torture. They have to be read. We don’t have a choice. And in anything we don’t have a choice, a feeling of burden is inevitable. 

Literary books don’t evoke pressure as there are no deadlines.

2. Academic books are linear, so, boring at times. 

Literary books generally contain lots of variety in a single package, therefore, are fun & interesting; more effective than television or playing games. It’s a de-stress with minimal expense.

3. Academic books are written in a very direct manner - devoid of any layers - as a result they are not as gripping or effective for learning the art of story- telling.

Literary books enhance your vocabulary. It helps you understand how to use words, how to articulate what you want to say. They teach you the art of story- telling. They teleport you in a totally new world and you get lost in time and story. It helps you experience things which you can’t experience so easily.

4. Academic books lack a sense of personal touch. It’s simply loaded with facts & figures and information, hence, lacks connectivity.

Literary books carry lots of personal opinions, experiences, learnings, messages as a result the connectivity quotient is relatively higher.

5. Academic books very rarely has the potential to inspire you to become a better human being.

Literary books at times, give you a smell of your inner self. They teach you that you are not alone. You come across new ideas, perceptions, philosophies, personalities and in the process develop your own philosophy and personality. It provides you answers to your personal problems, more importantly, pushes the questions lying back in your head to the forefront. They help you understand yourself & the world better.

 Even if the story is not good, a literary book will teach you something. If the plot is set in Canada, it will give you a glimpse of Canadian culture. If it’s non-fiction, it will enhance your understanding of the world. If it’s a mystery, it will give you an adrenaline rush. If it’s a self help book, it will help you in becoming a better version of yourself. You will learn about people, places, culture, psychology.

There will be moments when you identify so much with a character that you magnify your understanding of yourself. Isn’t it amazingly amusing when a fictional character tells you about yourself? 

 The beauty of literature is - it allows you to imagine scenes with your own creativity. When you read, you become the director of the story. It's like you have the script ready and you are the one shouting ‘action’ and ‘cut’.

 When you start reading, you will look forward to lines, layovers and waiting rooms. You will never be bored again. You will always be intellectually stimulated. You will ask why it took you so long to rouse this superpower within you. You will learn so much, you will realize you were dumber than you thought, that there is so much about your world you don’t even know. To shed off the stupid you will read even more. It’s a cycle. You will always carry the stories in your heart. Reading will sculpt & chisel your raw form and refine you. It will bring out feelings you didn’t even know resided in you. It makes you travel.

P.S. - I am not sure what’s the most suitable age to start reading Literature but one thing is sure -  earlier you start better it is.