Reading: HUH! What Is It Good For?

Those of us (of a "certain" age) will, undoubtedly remember the long lost days of reading shampoo bottles (or whatever else was on hand) whilst sitting on the toilet. This, largely because cell phones weren't a thing. Now. . . I'm not about to go on an anti-cell-phone rant or anything. I happen to really like my phone. However, I am going to suggest that the uptick in technology has lead to a downtick in folks doing as much reading in general. And. . . as a person who spends all day with folks who don't read as well as they "should," I am not a fan of this trend. Before we get into it, maybe I should clarify what I'm talking about when I say, "reading." Reading--for the purpose of this post--is putting one's eyebulbs on text while simultaneously decoding and comprehending said text. In an ideal situation, the person is getting something out of doing so. This might be information, entertainment, or whatever. I'm not merely talking about fiction texts and I'm not (and I know this will crush some of my friends' souls) talking about listening to an audio book. . . unless one is also reading along with a book in their hands. I'm talking about reading. . . Because. You. Can.

I wasn't always a "reader" but that, friends, is a whole different post. I want to extoll the virtues of slowing your ass down and sitting with a book for the duration of it's story. I find that the escape reading provides me is more comprehensive than watching TV. Now, I'm not saying I don't like TV. I do. I just think that when I get sucked into a good book, there's more of my brain engaged in the whole experience. Thinking back, I think the first time I was completely "in" a book/series was when I read Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders of Pern series WAAAAAAAAAAY back in junior high. Those books will always hold a special place in my heart. I have to wonder though. . . with the nihilistic part of my soul that will never die. . . if reading is a dying art (like handwriting of any real variety).

According to this article reading is not, in fact, dead. Nor is it "just resting" (bonus points if you know the reference). Reading might be experiencing a slight resurgence via social media -- of all things. I hope this is true. I know most of my friends are readers but. . . as they say. . . like calls to like so I cannot even imagine spending a ton of time with non-readers. I really believe we need reading now more than ever. We need to ability to slow our brains down, intermittently mute the "noise" of our digital lives, and sink into something more intellectually immersive than binge watching anime (Of which. . . I am THE guilty party). We need what reading provides. Respite.

So. . . I hope some of you are still reading (both this post and in general). If you need some ideas for good books to read, I suggest hitting up your local library.