Hi There!
It’s the third week of the year and firstly, I would like to congratulate myself for completing the first book in the first week and second book, “The Richest Man in Babylon”…the second week. I guess I’m on track You can visit the Mini-Library in Lokogoma for a copy of this book. The 3rd book for the 3rd week is our own classical novel; “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe – that should be a reading pleasure.
If you read my last post on “A New Year Resolution That May Help You in 2024”, I informed the audience that I am on a personal challenge to read 1 book every week. This might not be a big deal to some people but I guarantee you that it is a great deal to many people. (I am inviting everyone to join this challenge).
In addition, Social Media and the use of phones, laptops, and several personal IT devices have further made it difficult for people to read, especially hard cover books. Furthermore, classes and tutorials are currently been delivered online on YouTube or on various online channels; while books and stories are produced into documentaries and movies, so where is the encouragement to read?
The general gist is that reading is becoming a great and difficult activity (or should I say a chore) for many people, especially the coming generation. Nevertheless, Reading is a very important, special, and beneficial activity and this is the crux of the matter in this post: The benefits of reading!
There are many listed benefits to reading a book. These can be found online but I would just list out the 5 main reasons that resonate with everyone.
- Reading Exercises The Brain
This can not be overemphasized, reading is a brain exercise. Probably, like exercise, this is why many people are lazy about it. Reading helps you task your brain for visualization and ideation. It helps you create your worldview and strengthens the brain for memory retention.
Like all exercises, the more you get at it, the more you improve on it. And there are methods of improving your reading habits. We will discuss this in the next post (that should be by next week).
- Reading Helps Develop Your Vocabulary & Knowledge of A Language
Words remain the building blocks of any language. We can add more words to our arsenal whenever we read. Yes, you would say we equally gain knowledge of words by listening to people. However, reading has more impact in acquiring more words to your word bank because you don’t just hear the words, but you see the words; the way they are spelt, and differences with other words, and there is a higher tendency to own or grasp or add the word(s) to your list of vocabulary. Note that many words may sound alike just by listening to them without knowing the spelling. This point leads us to the next most salient point: Communication.
- Reading Greatly Improves Your Communication Skill
Sequel to the previous point, we would agree that the very essence of using any language is for communication. You communicate better when you know the words (preferably the registers) about a subject matter. One thing is to gather (or acquire the right word) and another thing is to put them to use. The essence of reading is to learn the words, see how they are used or applied, and gain meaning and mastery of it. The more you read, the more your applications of a word broaden, hence, the better you become at communicating. This becomes evident in your writing skills.
Do you live around Lokogoma and you thinking of improving your reading habit or imbibing this skill in your kids; Good News, we have a library in Efab Estate, Lokogoma.
We have a Mini-Library in Efab Estate in Lokogoma.
We are open:
Mondays to Fridays : 9am – 5pm
Saturdays / Public Holidays : 10am – 4pm
For More Info Please Contact:
08023542319
Gist continues:
Let’s call a spade a spade, some prefer listening to tapes or watching a video clip to reading. These other means of communication or learning provide a faster process of communication or learning, but they leave you with a different experience. Listening to someone’s interpretation of a story, event or write-up may be different from your understanding, perception, or/and worldview. In reading, you explore your worldview, and improve your ability to comprehend, as well as quickly develop your ability to assess an author’s (another person’s) point of view. When you read, you take a trip to the author’s environment and your brain actively explores a worldview different from yours. Reading creates room for empathy, depth and maturity.
- Readers Are Leaders
It is said that readers are leaders. This opinion was very popular when the source of information, knowledge, or ancient wisdom was only available in text or manuscripts. This was because the more the person acquires knowledge or information, the more he gains the wisdom to lead others and make meaningful decisions that would change other lives.
Fortunately, today we can access information and knowledge in a variety of ways. This includes audio, video, and graphics. Notwithstanding, I still stand by the saying that readers are leaders. In addition to the points earlier mentioned, reading comes with a great level of discipline, active engagement with content, and to many, a great deal of effort. A lazy person cannot read and is not the best candidate for leadership. In some management interviews candidates are asked the number of books they have read to ascertain their willingness or readiness to acquire knowledge to solve challenges.
- Reading Is Beneficial to Your Career Growth
In case you have not noticed, many official matters are still in written text. We have government or corporate documents, School examinations, and registration forms/materials, to mention a few.
The point here is that very serious and important engagements are very much in text. Audios, graphics, and videos can not replace text. Maybe not in the next 50 years, while you are still alive. The higher you climb the organisational ladder the more supervision and approval of documents, proposals, memos, letters, etc. are required from you with a very minimal timeline for execution. To be at your best, you must be an avid reader.
Reading frequently gives you the ease and stamina to read any and every important document that requires your attention. We find many people these days who gloss over important documents without getting the crux of an issue. Some people can’t wait for others to read a circular at work and explain to them… (Crazy right?) They are dependent on whatever interpretation is presented to them, even if its suicidal. Whose fault if they become victims of their laziness?
Most exams (theory-based exams) if not all, would require you to put words on paper to express yourself. There are professional exams that come in volumes of pages and require the mental exercise to read a great deal of content within a speculated time with a clear understanding of the subject matter.
In your career, you may be required to deal with a lot of documents, proposals, or letters. The ability to breeze through these responsibilities with ease would largely depend on your reading skills & habits.
In conclusion, reading a book is beneficial to your personal, social, and professional development. We just underscored 5 points that reveal why you need to read a book often. There are many other reasons that I may delve into as this series goes on, but the next post will be on Reading Techniques that would help you. These techniques will encourage you to take up reading as one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2024. Till then, visit a library and have great fun!
John
Project Manager – lokogoma.com / Mini – Library
08023542319
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