Why not read?
Reading is always considered to be one of the essential abilities for people to deeply understand themselves and others co-existing in the world. But now students tend to read less than before. This essay will reveal the reason what makes this happen and argue that the true value of books should be reconsidered seriously, though the conditions of publishing may not be so favorable. Also it will look into what government has done to encourage reading and give suggestion on how to choose books.
With the improvement of modern life, there are too many attractions make student become unstable and seemingly busier at spare time, like music, films, parties and other social activities. The names of pop stars may be better remembered than the names of famous writers. The libraries may be also crowded, but students there more tend to read for practical use, such as exam and essay. Instead, one may heard of a lot, for example, Ulysses, the great Gatsby or the sound and the fury among the 100 must-reads recommended by the American Library Association, without reading one of them completely, but just put a hard-cover edition on the desk for decoration. This goal-oriented reading is also reflected in the report which revealed the fact that the growing of publish market was mainly resulted by the increased purchase of textbooks (Jordan T).
However, it's book that bring people together and convey human civilization generation by generation. What made human beings different from other animals is the thoughts and creativities. As Francis Bacon once said, studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. He also said that there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Book is the nutrition for the brain, giving birth to the matured mind. It can not only help to command knowledge and skills for study, but also bring feelings of comfort and enjoyment, rich experience and broaden mind. As an old Chinese saying:” there are countless fortunes and gorgers beauties in the book”, it means the pursuit of meaningfulness in life can be realized in books.
If one doesn’t read, inevitably culture will vanish in the future and people will live aimlessly. Reading is such a pleasure for you to explore the infinite meaning of life within the limited length of your life span. The readers are offered exciting opportunities to talk to the heroes, to wander in the wonder land descript in the books, hearing what have never heard and seeing what have never seen. It’s said that reading a good book is just like communicating with a master about his ideas and opinions. So why still hesitate to pay a so affordable price for the valuable knowledge?
Someone may argue that there is no necessity to hold a block of paper in hand any more, with so many other accesses which are much more convenient, such as internet (Jarvis J, 2006). Undoubtedly internet is now widely used all over the world and any information desired can be searched out within seconds. By surfing on net, one can not only get what he want, but also easily link to other related addresses, and freely make comment at once or debate with different opinions on forums or blogs. Compared with purchasing one copy of book waited for several months, the usages of new media consume less time and money.
But what need to be cared is whether the sources of information are believable or not, under the information explosion in modern times. That proves why plagiarism becomes serious after the invention of internet.
Another problem is about the keeping of data. Paper is always considered as the safest and reliable way for recording, while computer becomes very annoying that everything you saved disappear suddenly, and that could be a disaster under some urgent circumstances.
In terms of time consuming, great mind deserves patience. The excitement and satisfaction from tasting can be doubled after some time’s hungry for food.
Of course the bookstores also provide far more information than needed, and seemingly there are a lot of choices. But actually it takes quite a long time to find, to evaluate and to buy a book in the end. Only the weekly and even daily bestseller list can cause a headache. In the past, only excellent scholars, experts or professors would be picked by the press and honored to reach the public after enduring a long and lonely time in research. This devotion was warmly welcomed while appreciation and acclamation achieved in the whole society. Everything is in some kind of order and happens naturally step by step. But things changed nowadays -- anyone can be changed into a writer and get chance to publish his work, which causes chaos. The publishers care more about the popularity which can brings profit than the real value of knowledge embodied in the book. Sadly there is more rubbish on the book shelves.
What individual can do is to sharpen their eyes and have their own judgment. But experience is required to tell the worth of a book from the first eye. It’s better for green hand to ask for advice from experienced person, such as teachers, tutor, or even writers. Also there are some famous columns on magazines or TV programs introducing great pieces of writing for readers, based on their critical attitudes.
Also, regulations by related offices may need to be strict to control and govern the book market. Another good idea is to encourage students to read at the early stage of education and help them to cultivate a hoppy in reading. Lacking of reading will result in poor creativity and lead to no future of a country. According to report from reading agency in the UK, government has supported a Creativity Partnerships project for schools and young people, funding by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Skills. It is now working with around 2500 schools.
For those who are already in their final stage of education, one should know that learning in class is far from enough. No matter what major you are in, reading for self -perfection is the subject should never be ignored. After graduation and entering into a more practical and material world, there may not be so much spare time or individual space allowing reading, instead, there would be one or another interruption such as career, family and other social intercourse.
References
Books: Publishing, or Publishing and Printing Industry report: Companies in this industry
http://business.highbeam.com/industry-reports/wood/books-publishing-publishing-printing (accessed 14/03/2010)
Jarvis J (June 2006) Books will disappear. Print is where words go to die http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/jun/05/bookscomment.mediaguardian1 (accessed 10/03/2010)
Jordan T, AAP Reports Book Sales Estimated at $24.3 Billion in 2008
http://www.publishers.org/main/IndustryStats/indStats_02.htm (accessed 10/03/2010)
Making reading creativity http://www.readingagency.org.uk/children/children-uploads/CreativePartnershipsbrochure.pdf (accessed 16/03/2010)
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