The Importance of Reading Books

“Knowledge is Power” – Francis Bacon As children, we have all been persuaded to read, to “increase knowledge.” At home and school, reading as a means to pursue and enhance knowledge is emphasized time and again. From when we were little, books have been a part of most of our lives, be it a Noddy or the Famous Five, Harry Porter or Oliver Twist, childhood has been a sense of wonder, of joy, of imagination. Reading is not just a means of increasing knowledge or to score marks in school, it is vital part of our lives. In later years it becomes a hobby for some of us, to be pursued in our free time, but the wonder does not cease, rather it increases manifold and broadens our horizons. Books transport us to into another world altogether, far beyond day to day life. The joy of reading “The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.” – Abraham Lincoln. One of our earliest joyful memories is of being read to by our parents, many of them stories that stay with us for life and shape our thinking. Fortunate is the child who continues to read, whose parents continue to encourage reading and get him books to read. rnSome books just bring out a laugh and are perhaps not remembered for too long, others stay with us, widen our horizons, introduce us to ages and places unseen, encourage us to travel, to see the world, and to experience the inner-world of the author. How often we encounter a lucidly and interestingly written account of a practice, a tradition of which we thought we know, only to discover how little we actually knew of it. Many are the books that make such an impression that we wish to read them again and again. It could be something as intricate as a mystery thriller, or a true account of an almost impossible conquering of the highest mountain, each book bring with it an insight into the working of the human mind, the challenges and how one overcomes them. Buying a Book A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them - Horace Mann quotes (US educator, the first great American advocate of public education, 1796-1859) With the passage of time, the many options for acquiring a book have increased. One could just walk into a bookshop and buy the book choice or visit a library and arrange to borrow it. However, for a lover of books, being able to own a book and read it at leisure is definitely the best option. The advent of technology has facilitated the internet opening up a larger vista of selections and options. One has the option of ordering a book online, downloading it or just reading it online for a fee. This is true of not just new books, but also of second hand books. There are many online websites that sell popular and valuable used books for a fraction of its original price.rnIf you were worried about the cost of books, choose a used book store online. You may also be able to pick up some rare gems at used book stores. rnKeep reading. Books can be your best companions. ***