Why Do We Need to Read (Great) Books

I’ve been a a course in miracles reader as far as I can remember. Personally, I’d rather spend my time reading a book than watching TV (unless, when I got company, then I’d be watching TV, just to poke fun on what’s ongoing on the tube). So what reasons may I share you why others would like to consider reading a book a priority activity in their personal lives?

1) Reading books can help you become more productive with your time. If you’ve nothing to do while waiting for something to happen as you follow your schedule, you better read a book. While waiting for time, you may just read something good from a book. While waiting for the traffic to move, or while going to and fro your destination, you may also read a few pages of a book (it’s a different matter altogether if you’re the one driving – you need to listen then to an audio book, or books in a different format). Or read a book to someone who’s driving and those willing and ready to listen, if that works for you.

2) To read a book is just like undergoing training and learning rolled into one, no matter how some have questioned how people can actually learn from or train using a book. I remember a question fielded out by a teacher of mine in graduate school, who’s an expert corporate trainer, who asked the class if books can actually train people. He was in a manner of speaking, sounding out his doubts on the use of books in training. I said otherwise, and explained myself. Well, he was not convinced by my ideas (basically, books give out ideas that you apply in your everyday life situations), and I thought he must have taken it against me. But still, I still stick to my position on books being both a great training and learning tool. You apply what you read from books in life, and you revise, if you made mistakes. You, thus, learn in the process – books then facilitate training and learning.

3) Books are great companions, especially when you’re in situations in life that others describe as “going gets rough, the rough gets going” phase. When friends are unbearable to meet out, for some unclear and varied personal reasons, you may just consider reading books. Your seeking solace amidst the pages of a book, may help relieve whatever it is that ails you now. Read two pages or up to ten pages a day, and this will suffice your (reading) needs.

4) You’ll read everything about the most important beings, both supernatural and natural, through books. Remember: even God wrote down a book, in the form of the Bible (which was done through people like us, of course). You’ll come face to face, so to speak, with these beings (of great consequence) when you read about them from books.

5) You learn great stories that define and explain the mystery and profundity of the human experience. You may read literature, contemporary books, religious books, history books, even technical books (“they give instructions on what to do”), poetry, and you’ll still “hear” about great stories that will always inspire you. You see some sort of illumination of what is the “truth” by reading the pages of these books that promise to tell you great stories.