I tried to come up with thirteen and failed. Then, I dropped it to ten and, lo and behold, I kept going. Weird. So . . .Thirteen Great Reasons to Read:
1. To learn new things.
2. You can travel without leaving home.
3. It's addictive, yes, but not in a bad way like alcohol or caffeine.
4. Reading doesn't cause cancer.
5. Because you can.
6. Unless you read outdoors, you're probably not going to stir up a lot of pollen reading so it won't make you sneeze.
7. It's a great excuse to curl up with a pet.
8. It keeps the old brain neurons popping (as opposed to drugs, which kill them).
9. Time spent waiting in lines, riding trains, or sitting in doctor's offices becomes enjoyable and productive.
10. Reading builds muscle. Eye muscle, that is.
11. You can do it just about anywhere.
12. It's a great way to escape from everyday life.
13. Books are calorie free.
What other reasons can you think of to read?
Here, here! Great post, Bookfool.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Booklogged. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought of just one in addition to all your really good ones: You're not so dependent on others for company because your book is company.
ReplyDeleteI am skeptical on the building eye muscles thing. My eye doctor told me when I was little that I was going to have to get glasses because I read so much, and now, glasses I have. It might be bad reading habits (like near dark) than the actual reading, but still.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great way to beef up your vocab. Makes people think you're smart ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a Thursday Thirteen. How about.. you're never lonely if you've got a book! :)
ReplyDeleteYou can do it on your own but it's also great to share with others eg all the great lit blogs!
ReplyDelete"because you can" --I love that one.
ReplyDeleteHow about because it sets a good example for kids?
Bybee,
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one, companionship. I like!
Kailana,
I know two people who say they can only read a few pages before falling asleep and their eye doctors claim weak eye muscles, that they can be built up by reading more each night. I'm not sure what to think of it, but I have great eyes and I read quite a bit, so you never know. I do think it strains your eyes to read with less light - it gives me a headache.
Nik,
Good one! I used to actually keep vocab notebooks for the words I ran across that I didn't know. I think I learned quite a bit from that experience.
Nat,
You and Bybee are on the same train. And, so right. I think I would have gone nuts years ago because of my husband's traveling if not for my books keeping me company (and giving me a break from kid talk). :)
a.book.in.the.life,
You're new here! Hi! Very true, great things to share. I think the people I get along with best in person are all readers; you never run out of subject matter if you have books in common.
Kookie,
Oh, yes indeed. I actually thought about that one and skipped it but sharing with my kids and turning them into avid readers has been one of my greatest joys. Now, if the youngest would quit reading in class . . . :)
Great list! Let's see. It gives you something to do at 2 am when you can't sleep. Perfect distraction while on a airplane. If you're lucky,, you might read something that makes you laugh outloud, and we all know that laughter is the best medicine.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Oh these are good! I'd add because Reading is sexy! At least I have a tshirt that says that :)
ReplyDeleteLes,
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, those 2am wake-up miseries. How could I forget? All wonderful thoughts. :)
Iliana,
I need that t-shirt!!! Where did you get it?
Great Post!! I love it!! My eye doctor LOVED my reading habit when I was young. My prescription changed every year and I needed new glasses or contacts each time I went in!
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
ReplyDeleteThat's wild! My eldest has been like that - his prescription changes fast, fast, fast. My eyes pretty much just stay the same, year after year, although my vision improved for a while and now I'm starting to do the oops-you-might-need-bifocals hold. Gettin' old. :)
Well...for me, it helps me get housework done (books on my iPod that is). :)
ReplyDeleteActually, before I had any sort of electronics to listen to books, the book just sitting there calling my name helped me get my chores done quicker, too. *giggle*
How about: 'To get lost in the worlds that simple words strung together conjure in your imagination'.
ReplyDeleteJoy,
ReplyDeleteThat's terrific that books helped you get the housework done. It's the opposite for me; I find reading an excuse not to do housework. Well, sometimes, anyway. :)
Indigo,
I love the way you put that. I might have to type up a list of everyone else's great reasons to read. Getting lost in an imaginary world is always a terrific reason to read. :)
You get to meet people you never would have, see places you may never see, travel to times beyond your ability and share these moments with fellow book travelers.
ReplyDeleteExcellent reasons, Gavin! I hadn't thought about traveling through time; that's a good one. History, fictional or otherwise, is always great to immerse yourself in!
ReplyDelete