Are you fond of reading books? Not so? Are you not missing out? Reading books gives you the capability to speak and express yourself, learn and develop imperative life skills in terms of education, self-improvement, positive life choices and all round well-being. “He that loves reading has everything within his reach”, said William Godwin. Book reader is a potential problem solver and plays his or her role in building a strong society. Books can expand horizons by providing information and are first-rate source of education. Book reading is integral to culture and economic prosperity, both of which are in a retreat in Pakistan.
According to a survey conducted by Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International, only 27% Pakistanis have the habit of reading frequently or occasionally. It also affirms that a higher percentage (31%) of men read books as compared to women (23%).
It is a common site in the West that people stand in long queue to buy books but it is not the case in the East. Arab Thought Foundation’s Fikr Conference released its fourth annual cultural development report in January 2012, saying that the average Arab child reads “six minutes” a year in comparison to 12,000 minutes its Western counterpart spends. It also reported that an Arab individual on average reads a quarter of a page a year compared to the 11 books read by an American and 7 books by a British. Strange?
“Only a few teen agers read books outside their syllabus and reading habits in youth have witnessed a sharp decline in Pakistan”, reports say. The obvious reason is extensive use of electronic gadgets such as cell phone, television, radio, computer, internet, tablet and ipad. Family trips to libraries are considered rare across Pakistan. Waqas, 22 years old Lahore-based student says, “TV has become the focal gathering point for families. We never had a chance to read or discuss a book together as a family.”
Peeping into the past gives us insight that Muslims remained the torch bearer of knowledge for centuries. They pioneered in various sciences and excelled in spreading knowledge to other societies. President Barack Obama, for instance, in his June 4, 2009 speech in Cairo, praised Muslims for their historical scientific and intellectual contributions to civilizations “It was Islam that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s renaissance and enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed.”
Decline in book reading leads to drought of intellect, restrain from spreading knowledge and ultimately discoveries and inventions. The comparison between past and present reveals that this is the major reason behind Muslim decline in science, technology and economy which has resulted ultimately in social and political anarchy. Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg, who shared 1979 physics Nobel Prize with Dr. Abdus Salam, has observed, “For forty years I have not seen a single paper by a physicist or astronomer working in a Muslim country that was worth reading.” For example, Spain is hardly intellectually distinct; it translates more books in a single year than the entire Muslim world has in the past thousand years.
Why is it important to read books? Reading brings you numerous valuable and unswerving benefits. The prime gain of reading is acquisition of knowledge. Reading familiarizes the people with latest technological developments and scientific discoveries in their own fields and accelerates logical and scientific thinking to tackle complex problems. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to be more imaginative, creative and therefore productive and result-oriented than those with lack of awareness of scientific breakthroughs, literature and global events. Reading is a source of global conversation as books are the way we communicate across cultures, national boundaries and social lines. You learn quite a lot about science, economy, history, relationships and all around you. You inhale bits of information through reading books, indulge into the world of imagination and innovation. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and you will learn to talk pretty.
Reading acts right on the brain and significantly enhance cognitive abilities. In fact, every new memory you create forges new brain pathways and strengthens existing ones, which assist in short-term memory recall. Studies have shown that the books are source of mental stimulation that can slow down or possibly even prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”, said Richard Steele. Consistent reading habits might help keep your brain sharp and slow down memory decline when you reach old age, according to research published early 2013 in the online issue of the Journal of Neurology. In addition, reading significantly improves concentration. When you read a book, all of your attention focuses on a story and you immerse yourself in every fine detail you are absorbing.
Reading provides you an opportunity to find a safe way to escape when your own life is depressing or overwhelming. Research conducted in 2009 at Mindlab International at the University of Sussex showed that reading was most effective way to overcome stress, beating out old favorites such as listening to music, enjoying a cup of coffee and even taking a walk. In addition to the relaxation, reading books can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility. For instance, researches show that the reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about an enormous sense of calm. Books could eradicate terrorism, injustice and social disparities.
A statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics in early 2014 affirms “reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.” Parents are encouraged to read to their offspring from the birth to help brain development and build early language. For years, educators have believed the strongest predictor of attaining high level of education was having highly educated parents. But, massive studies show that having books in the home is twice as important as a father’s education level. Independent reading has clear relationship with improved school achievement.
To develop a generation capable of adhering to the technological advancements and contributing in the societal mellowness, fostering reading habits among youth must be provoked. Schools must introduce reading sessions or frequent individual reading classes and students must read for enjoyment. Parents must read and develop love for books in their children, adapt daily reading habit and implement book reading culture at home. “Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift”, says Kate DiCamillo.
