In today’s world, with television, movies, video games, and social media being so easy to access, books are easy to forget about. In fact, I’m familiar with a lot of people who, the second they’re not required to read them, disregard books as “useless” or “boring”. But books are more than just pages with words on them. They deserve to be read. Why?
They Came First
Back when people couldn’t just snap a picture and immediately share their feelings with the world, they wrote things down. Books became a way to record,spread, and preserve information. The ancient Egyptians used papyrus scrolls to create the now famous Book of the Dead, which gave instructions to pharaohs in the underworld. European monks in the Middle Ages copied classical works such as the Bible, creating beautiful manuscripts. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg, helped spread the ideas of the Renaissance. Today, many movies are based off of books. A few famous ones are The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. .
They Transport You to Far Away Places
Readers know the feeling-you open a brand new book, sniff the sweet smell of its knowledgeable pages, and immediately get swept up in the story. Next thing you know, you’re not just sitting on the plain old couch in your average home in your small town-you’re standing in a green field with a castle in the distance, and the sound of water rushing down a river behind you. Or you’re on a spaceship, watching as aliens slowly kill off your fellow human inhabitants. Or maybe you’re watching as a detective investigates a bloody corpse. Wherever they take you, books are a great way to escape the monotony of everyday life. With them, you can travel to places you’d never dream of going to.
They Educate You
OK, this one may seem obvious, but be honest: Where do you turn to when you need information? Chances are, your first source is the internet. Sure, browsing the web is easier than having to actually think about something, or having to flip through the pages of a dusty textbook or manual. But books like encyclopedias were the original internet. And we still use manuals and directional pamphlets for tasks such as assembling items and learning new skills. Imagine you have a broken clock that you just can’t fix. You can either go to the endless maze of videos that is YouTube, or just find an instruction manual with the answer clearly stated. It’s your choice, but there’s one option that’s a lot more appealing.
They Entertain You
In a lot of ways, reading a book is more entertaining than anything on television. Who didn’t root for Ron, Harry, and Hermione throughout their adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series? Who didn’t laugh uncontrollably while reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams? Who wasn’t on the edge of their seat until the mystery was solved in practically any Agatha Christie novel? If it’s written correctly, a book can be just as entertaining as any sort of media. And no commercials!
They Become As Essential to Your Life As Breathing
Ok, so maybe that’s just for some people…
Thoughts of a Middle School Nerd 