“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
I’ve always been a reader, averaging one to two books weekly. There are more volumes in our home than I will ever be able to read in a lifetime, but happily the possibility still exists. A tablet is ideal for travel, yet for the most part, I prefer to hold a book in my hands, to feel it; the energy is somehow different and more personally connected. Books are anyone’s ticket to other places, more information and a wheelhouse of knowledge.
Based on my own experience and the value I place on books and other written material as resources, I was surprised to see the following statistics compiled by the Robert Brewer research organization.
• 33% of High School graduates never read another book in their lifetime • 42% of College graduates never read another book after college • 57% of new books are not read to completion • 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years • 80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year • The more a child reads, the likelier they are able to understand the emotions of others • Reading ONE HOUR per DAY in your chosen field will make you an international expert in 7 years!
Purchase books, reserve them at the library, share with friends and colleagues, even begin your own lending library at work. Vary your choices and pick something out of your comfort zone. When I travel, I frequently leave books at the front desk, especially guide books from that country. There are many ways to share so the gift of reading can continue.
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” Haruki Murakami
©MWeisner2017
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