Knowledge is a basic need for all human beings. Every individual can grow only by obtaining knowledge. Books might be a medium through which stories flow from the writer to the reader but they also have more to offer, like knowledge.
I think human beings can improve the world by reading. Studies show that people who read for pleasure are more likely to perform volunteer and charity work, they tend to be more active in the world around them. Yet people are less interested in reading lately. It isn’t just an opinion, it’s the sad truth. Technology plays a major part in this, because instead of reading people prefer to watch shows and movies or scroll through their social media feed, unless its an obligation to read. Although it should be also mentioned that the increase in internet usage would make people prefer to read online however it is so much easier to watch a 2-hour movie and get the same essence of the story than reading an entire book which can take days. Books are are also not easily accessible. To watch a movie or a television show, you just need to turn on your TV, laptop or smart device unlike for a new book that you usually need to purchase or borrow from a library. Online, anyone can download a book, while it is a hassle, it is definitely more intellectually rewarding. Long time ago reading was the only activity that people could do in their free time without being forced, on their own will, they enjoyed reading.
Nowadays, schools and parents sometimes force their children to read. Though it is for the sake of their development, it is against there will. Possibly it could lead to them disliking reading. Since people started avoiding reading, educational institutions moved on to use other mediums than books, to keep students hooked. Digital teaching using laptops has gained popularity, the written material still exists but is slowly fading and is being replaced with videos and such.
Books nowadays are less interesting content-wise, with just a pretty looking cover to attract. Sadly, some writers who have no experience in writing books publish books just for a commercial sell. Some may hit big success due to their fan following on social media but when we look deeply into their books, they come across as being meaningless with little to benefit from.
When we think about it as a whole reading isn’t completely over. There are always people who try to encourage others to read and there are always writers who haven’t lost hope to write. We shouldn’t give up on reading. Finding a good book is like finding a rare gem.
The writer is a media student with the Sharjah Higher College of Technology.
The International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), held in Sharjah, is an annual forum that shares global best practices in fields of government communication and aims to build a platform for better communication between governments and their citizens. This column is a collaborative effort with Gulf News featuring work by UAE-based students as part of that initiative.
