Those Who Read Shall Succeed

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television."  ~ Andrew Ross


In celebration of my recent purchase of a Kindle, I thought it would be fitting to have a quote on reading.

I am indebted to my grandfather and my family for my enthusiasm for reading. When I was young, my mother would drop my grandfather and I off at the library to spend a few hours while she ran errands. It was time well-spent. I distinctly recall having a fascination for the library, and thus my love for books began.


I suppose genes may have had something to do with it (both of my grandfathers had careers in education), but I think more than anything, it was the environment. Of course, the digital age was not in its full force at that time, but even then, my parents constantly made an effort to surround us with creative stimulation. We played sports, rode bikes, ran through the sprinklers, went to the park, and we read books! Although my mom hated it and often thought it was a waste of money, my dad would always enthusiastically buy books for us. I still remember the encyclopedia that he bought us. It was a huge investment at that time, and from then on, it was ingrained in my head that books had value, they were precious, something worth possessing.


Today, the format may indeed be changing from paper books to e-books, but the art of reading remains the same. Knowledge has the power to inspire, to motivate, to entertain and to take us towards perfection, and although we can attain knowledge from the TV and Internet, there is some intrinsic quality of a book that nothing will ever replace. Books are how knowledge has been preserved for hundreds of years and it is where we can get closest to ideas in their purest form.


But in case this in itself was not convincing, here are 5 good reasons to read books:

1. Reading sharpens your mind: it is an active mental process. You cannot simply stare at words and have them penetrate you in the way images can. Your brain has to string letters together to form words, words together to form sentences, and sentences together to form ideas. Reading can extend the life of your brain and keep you sharp throughout the years.
2. Reading improves concentration and focus: Unlike emails, chats and magazines, books demand your attention for a long period. They tell a complete story, not just a part of it. You have to stay engaged constantly in order to capture the meaning. No one can read a book while at the same time conversing with a friend, watching TV and talking on the phone. Your book beckons you with all your  focus.
3. Reading gives you something to talk about: Those people whom you often find most engaging and best able to professionally network are often able to do so because of their reading. Those who read have a vast array of subjects on which they can converse. Reading expands your horizons and opens your mind. It leads you into unexplored areas of the world, and makes the possibilities of sharing endless.
4. Reading reduces boredom: A book is a form of entertainment that requires no one else and nothing else. You don't need your 4G connection, a power outlet, a charger, nothing. All it takes to read is your book and your attention. More importantly, ideas can give your mind a joy that is long-lasting, one that can be revisited at anytime. 
5. It is the readers among us who become leaders: Look around at the people who lead our world. They are constantly reading and acquiring wisdom. John F. Kennedy once said: "Learning and leadership are indispensable to each other." Whether it be journals in their particular field, the latest books about the world around us, or historical insights into great events and characters, the people at the forefront of society possess knowledge. From sports to politics, entertainment to science, the movers and shakers of the world become leaders by first being readers because even though it's who you know that matters, it's what you know that determines who you get to know.