Why You Should Read

It wasn’t until I started traveling and working full time, ironically, that I became a more regular reader. I had new time on trains and planes, or down time in a foreign city by myself, which was not as exotic as it sounds. It really was my newly preferred pastime. Here’s why you should read, and what brought me to this realization.

The Books That Made Me a Reader

Hunger Games turned my attitude about reading around. Initially, I thought reading was boring and that I didn’t have the attention span for it but little did I know it was merely that I hadn’t yet found the right book. I firmly believe there’s a book or series out there for everyone, that can turn you into a reader no matter what. Everyone loves a good story, it’s just that not everyone’s idea of a good story is the same. It really is crazy how one good story can cause you to develop an entirely new interest.

No matter how routine of a person you are, I find it hard to believe that the idea of something new and exciting is completely unappealing to you. Curiosity is in our DNA as humans. I work a pretty unfaltering job every day and to read about someone else’s day, fictional or not, is much needed variety.

Limiting Beliefs of Non-Readers

I just don’t have the time or attention span to read, I just don’t read.

Excuse me while I remove my foot from my mouth.

While movies give you 90 minutes of entertainment, books give you a countless number of hours-worth of entertainment. Plus, more freedom in interpretation, and the best part is you get to decide where you enjoy this media. You can read virtually anywhere.

On my day off I didn’t take my Blu-Ray player to the rooftop pool, I brought my library book, Allegiant. Side note: this is the third book in the Divergent trilogy and I highly recommend this series. Especially to those who feel they are missing adventure and/or imagination in their daily lives).

Two years ago I was on the opposite side of this argument, my only regret is that I didn’t see the greener grass sooner.

Different Ways You Can Read

The transition was not seamless from snobby to bookworm, I found some apps helpful along the way. Hopefully these tips below will help convert some of you movie-goers in to open minded multi-media consumers like myself:

Get a Library Card

They’re usually very inexpensive if not totally free. This also gives you an excuse to get out, enjoy the weather and save money if you’re on a budget. Everyone is different and the traditional textbook might not be for you. That’s okay, because this is the 21st century and there’s many more options today. Some libraries rent e-books and even e-readers! Look into your local library system today.

Be Social While Reading

Have you heard of Goodreads? It’s a social app with tons of reviews and suggestions for all types of books. It’s a great place to start if you’re not sure what your genre is yet. You can also organize books to different ‘shelves’ (i.e. must read, read, currently reading), plus track and share your progress with friends!

Use an e-Reader

The Kindle App books are slightly cheaper than physical copies. Plus, you can download the Kindle App on any tablet with a Google or Apple app store. You can take your books with you wherever you go! This makes reading during commutes a no-brainer. Some books are even available to be “loaned” to friends so you can all save even more money!

Join a Book Club

Once you feel ready to commit the time I highly recommend joining or starting a book club. It’s a great way to meet people, especially if you’ve recently moved to a new city. It’s a great excuse to get together for coffee, wine, snacks, sit by the pool, etc. In my book club we’ve even gone to see the movies of the books we read together. Despite reading generally being a solo activity, there’s lot of opportunity to make it an excuse to be social!

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