When I was younger, you couldn’t pay me to read a book. My parents read to me as a child, but in middle and high school, I was a Sparknotes reader; preferably, about 15-30 minutes before exams.
Homer’s Odyssey sat mostly unread. I was supposed to have spent the summer before my freshman year of high school analyzing the prose and coming up with something intelligent to say. Instead, I read the first 75 pages and called it good.
Reading wasn’t something I naturally enjoyed doing. It felt boring and stuffy. While I enjoyed the cover artwork, the text never enticed me to stay until the end. Ironically, I loved purchasing new — open it up, bend the spine, smell the glue and paper, and see those perfect 90-degree corners — books. But again, they sat mostly unfinished.
Something clicked in college. Suddenly, I enjoyed turning the pages of a good book of fiction. I wanted to read more. And for the last eight to nine years, I’ve become further engrossed and in love with the act of reading.
Now 27, I want to read even more. A lot more. And I’m not talking about finding a good book to read before bed or in between classes or to start my day. I’m talking about reading for entire days — hours upon hours!
I want to get swept away in a non-fiction subject or in fictional characters, plots, and narratives. I want to be amazed by others’ writing and ideas; most of all, I want to learn and hone my own writing abilities through reading. I learn through talented authors. They’re my role models.
The act has become this thing I lust after. Inside, I say to the world, “Get out of my way, leave me alone, stop talking to me. I need to read!” I read like there’s no tomorrow, because I’m not sure if there is. I read because there’s something I need to learn and would be remiss not to know it. More and more pages turned, pulled, flipped. Hours pass uninterrupted; frankly, I prefer it that way.
As I reflect on my habit, I realize what I love most about it. The classic book is a deep dive into a subject — whether fiction or not. Inside this world — and unlike the Internet — nothing pops up. Nothing pokes or aggravates. Nothing makes suggestions. There aren’t click-bait or artificial headlines. I don’t break from the reading to click and subscribe. I don’t scroll down to get back to the content. Ralph Nader says the only time to escape advertisements might be sleep, but books still provide an oasis.
Frugality is much easier with a good book. In fact, reading might be the lowest cost of entertainment on Earth. Consuming television and movies is cheaper than ever, but remains more expensive than going and getting a book.
For instance, a movie might have a 90-minute runtime and cost $10 to buy. That’s roughly a dollar for every 10 minutes. Meanwhile the purchase price of a book might be comparable — say $10 — but the runtime is magnificent. Pick up a lengthy tome like Stephen King’s 11/22/63 at 849 pages, and you’ll be reading for a 20-30 hours. It’s pennies to read every hour — enjoyment at a fraction of the price. And this doesn’t even account for public libraries!
Living simply and frugally is easier with a good book. These hours spent avoiding material consumption for knowledge, empathy, and understanding. And best of all, it won’t leave your wallet reeling.
So, what will you read this summer?
I just finished my first Hemingway book. I purchased his entire collection on Kindle for 2.99. I am good to go for a few weeks.
What a perfect example! I love it. 🙂
Yay! I’m thrilled you mentioned the public library. To me, it’s one of the very best uses of my tax dollars. I can reserve books and films online, stop by to pick them up, check out in less than a minute, keep my treasures for 3 weeks, often renewing online if I’m not done with them — for free! The world is at my fingertips!
Ha I felt like you were describing me as a kid. I was a big Cliff Notes guy but at the end of high school I somehow discovered a love for books that is there to this day. I really enjoy reading personal finance books but I can get lost in a good fiction book as well. I mean I’ll admit it the Harry Potter series had me enthralled.
This is actually contributing to our decision to finally cut the cable this month. Reading can be so much more entertaining than TV so I thin between Netflix and our public library, we’ll be set!
I love the library so I’m very happy to see you remind me of this wonderful, free resource for books, mags, newspapers, CDs, and movies (at mine at least!) On a warm summer day, reading in the shade is a relaxing way to spend some time and I find that it helps me to unwind and unplug from the constant chaos of “life”
Oh! I’m so glad to hear (from the lips of someone that grew up with the Internet, Google, iPhones, etc) that books are a wonder and a joy! They are a terrific escape. No commercials, ads, bells, beeps or ring tones! You can imagine the characters looking any way you like. You can continue a story in your imagination once you’ve turned the last page if you like. You can lose yourself in another time and place. Books are the closest thing we’ve got to a time travel machine!
I’ve been a voracious reader from the age of three. That’s 53 years of reading that I’ve got under my belt! It’s a pass time that I have yet to tire of. I’m delighted that you have discovered the joy that is waiting to be found in books!
I never know where my reading will take me as holds come in from the library and I find stuff while waiting for the holds come in. I am lucky that I can listen to audio books at work so my work which can be monotonous (same thing every day) but the books make the day fly by.
One of the best things my parents ever did for me was instill a love of reading in me from an early age. We always did family trips to the library every Saturday and that’s one of my fondest memories now that I’m older.
I just finished up the entire Harry Potter series and now I’m desperate to read Stephen King’s latest, end of watch. I need to figure out how Mr. Mercedes is gonna end!
I love reading because of the breaks! For any story, I need to emotionally process big scenes. This is difficult to do with on-screen media. Watching movies/tv is tricky because I have to continuously pause. It’s not really designed for that so usually I just give up. But books are designed for you to read in pieces! So I can pause after a scene to do something else then come back to it.
Leslie, super interesting point! I’m the same way — but I don’t think I realized it until you described it. Watching movies/TV, I often feel my attention must have drifted b/c I can’t take in the “big scene” without replaying. I know I’m not a visual learner, but instead prefer the written word — now, it all makes sense to me! Another reason to love books. 😉
I am retired now and joyfully reading. Everything I can get my hands on. I volunteer at my local library a few hours a week and I’m like a kid in a candy store. Books! An entire library system at my fingertips. Heaven.