Expand Your Mind With Books
Photo by Fabiola Peñalba on Unsplash
I love reading. I was originally an English Major, because I wanted to write books. I still hope to write books one day, but I’m no longer an English Major, as I’ve discovered other interests. But no matter what path my life takes, I know I’ll always love reading.
I was the kid who had to hide books and a flashlight in my bed whenever my parents came to check on me to see if I was sleeping. I read during lunch breaks, and sometimes during recess. I grew up with Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, and so many other great book series that held my attention.
And then I went to college.
I read books for classes that first year, and it was great. I tried to read something outside of class, and managed only one book per semester, Wuthering Heights, which I didn’t like, and The Hobbit, which I did. The pressures of school, along with my anxiety, made it difficult to read outside of school.
After that, I went on a mission, and could only read church-approved books. I read all that I could, and it was good, but when I got home in the spring of 2017, I had a hard time going back to reading the books on my list. There were just too many shows and movies to catch up on! (Not to mention some great fanfiction!)
However, I felt sad at my lack of reading. I decided to look into a trope, and read books that sounded interesting within that. I chose time travel, because it’s a cool concept to me. I only got through one book on that list, Kindred, by Octavia Butler. That was a great book, one I definitely recommend.
After that summer, I didn’t read much for fun at all, and I felt like something was missing. I also felt culturally illiterate, because I would log onto Twitter and see references to books I’d never read.
In the summer of 2018, I went on a study abroad to London. As a part of that study abroad, we read British literature and poems, such as Sense and Sensibility, Mrs. Dalloway, and the works of Shakespeare, whom I’ve always loved, as well as Wordsworth and Coleridge, whom I grew to enjoy. And yet, once again, after that study abroad, I took months and months to finish just one book, White Teeth, by Zadie Smith, another book I strongly recommend.
I like to mark my books when something stands out to me. This is an excerpt from White Teeth by Zadie Smith.
The next summer, in 2019, I took an internship in New York City. That meant subway commutes, as well as living in the same city as my sister who is still an avid reader. She gave me suggestions on books to read, and even invited me to go to BookCon with her. At BookCon, I realized how much I’d been missing out on. There were so many stories that seemed interesting, and hearing from authors sparked my joy of reading again.
I made a goal that summer to read more. I’d read a classic book, then a fun one, then a classic, and so on, back and forth. That way I could become more culturally literate, as well as read books that I could thoroughly enjoy.
I went through classics such as Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. I read World War Z, an excellent and engaging read I’d recommend for anyone. I also read the Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone series, which is currently being made into a Netflix series.
After this past summer, I’ve been determined to keep reading. I’ve read Educated by Tara Westover, Frankenstein, and some of the Raven Boys books. It’s been a great stress release, and has brought joy and entertainment back into my life. It’s nice to get sucked into another world or story for a time.
It’s still not always easy to read when I’m in school, and there’s so many other distractions around me, but I feel it’s important. I want to share with you why I think reading is so vital, especially in today’s world.
Have you ever wondered why there’s so many books about book burning, or why many regimes try to suppress reading? The freedom people to have to write what they want, and for people to read those stories, is vital to a free country. It helps people get out of their own minds, and develop empathy and concern for others. Many books have lessons for us, waiting to be shared. White Teeth taught me about what life for immigrants in London was like, in a clever and engaging way. World War Z showed me what people and world leaders might do in a global crisis situation. Educated related to me the experience of a girl in Idaho, who got herself out of an abusive situation.
Even “fun” books have lessons. Harry Potter is all about doing the right but hard thing, standing up to fascist regimes. The Hobbit warns about the dangers of greed and selfishness.
Reading improves critical thinking skills. It broadens your horizons and helps you see things from many different perspectives. If you live inside your own bubble, and never branch out, you may become an ignorant, self-centered, and close-minded person. The short book, “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie helped me to understand feminism from her Nigerian perspective, which is different than my white American one. It helped me understand the issues from a different viewpoint, which is only ever a good thing.
My copy of “We Should All Be Feminists.”
It’s important to branch out and read from all types of authors. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ authors, anyone whose life experience may be different from yours.
Do a Google search for something like “books by women of color,” and plenty of lists will pop up. You can search by topic, such as immigration, racial inequality, feminism, whatever it is, and there will be entertaining, engaging books about those topics, non-fiction and fiction alike. By doing this, you are learning from new people, gaining empathy for others, and enabling yourself to better discuss those issues.
Words speak to us. Have you ever read anything that just stuck with you? I once read a collection of works by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his essay on nature, he wrote, “There is no object so foul that intense light will not make beautiful.” I love that, it makes me think that no matter how “foul” I may get, the light of Jesus Christ can make me beautiful. I want to be that light for others. Another line that has stuck with me is from Shakespeare’s King Lear, “And worse I may be yet: the worst is not, so long as we can say ‘this is the worst.’” That line helps keep my troubles and complaints into perspective, it helps me realize that whatever I’m going through is not the worst, and that I’ll be okay.
Words have power. Sometimes, the pen truly is mightier than the sword. Satire shines a light on hypocrisy and unethical behavior. Personal stories and biographies can highlight injustice. Even lighter stories about love and justice can provide hope in a dark world.
I realize reading can be hard when life is busy. Something I do that helps is using library apps like Overdrive and Libby. I find it easier sometimes to read from my phone, because I’m on my phone a lot anyway. If audio books work better, download the Audible app and listen to books on drives or when you are walking or even in the shower. Often all you have to do is get started. Read only one chapter, and you’ll want to read more. If you’re not vibing with a book at the moment, try another one, don’t feel like you have to get through that one. You can always come back to it once you’re back in the swing of reading, if you want.
Humans have always told stories, and we always will. But they’ll do nothing for us if we don’t read them. It’s so important to allow yourself to learn and grow through reading. I feel happier when I do.
I’ve listed several books that I enjoy and recommend, as well as some tips. Now it’s your turn! Let me know in the comments what books you’ve read that you enjoy and would recommend to others. Or tips on reading, or even why you think it’s important. Something I love about reading is sharing that joy to others, and now’s a chance to do so! :)
Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
