1. It’s relaxing
Sometimes books can calm me down. It’s nice to read something where I feel like I’m there, ya know? I’m not working my nine to five job, instead I’m fighting imagery people with my imagery best friends and we’re solving real life….
Umm, wait I mean fictional problems.
Books can sometimes take me places, like instead of being in boring old America I’m in Paris or Nazi, wait, just kidding that one wasn’t that relaxing.
But my downright favorite book absolutely has to be The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life. And now I’m 100% convinced that some of us came from dolphins. This book has now put me on such a spiritual..
Okay I literally cannot write that anymore because now it’s just getting ridiculous. On a serious note, I do think that author is probably super smart and has written a lot of cool stuff in that book, but human dolphins? Sorry dude, I need a little more evidence.
2. Empathy
Some books are really good at teaching empathy -others are quite the opposite. Especially if its meant to fuel propaganda… but thats probably a discussion for another day.
I do think Holocaust books, books about racial inequality. Pretty much any book that teaches us about how separating ourselves from others is bad will teach how to have empathy for other people.
3. Imagination
Sometimes after I read a book, it gives me a creative vibe. Sometimes I’ll even paint after I read and I end up really liking what I made. It helps me think of things I won’t normally think of. Reading helps me to think of new ideas.
4. It’s a movie in your mind
I’ve always liked the book better than the movie, most authors don’t control the exact image you see in your head. If the author says someone looks pretty than you visualizes what you think is pretty, there is no image of picture there to control what the character’s supposed to look like.
To be honest, I’ve found it easier to remember books better than movies. Maybe it’s due to using my own ideas to ‘create’ them in a way. As opposed to other people shoving exactly what they want their ideas to look like in my face.
5. Better discussions
I think reading books can help to fuel some really good discussions. It helps people think even deeper about life, we start asking some pretty serious questions and figure out what we think works and what doesn’t work in the world. Book discussions can sometimes help us solve real life problems.
I’ve found book discussion to be a lot more meaningful as opposed to the majority of movies. Yes, some movies can be thought provoking. However, I’ve found myself asking more questions after reading a book rather than watching a movie.
6. Last, but not least.. THE SMELL
The smell of a book, new or old, is unique, I think it is one of the most wonderful smells in the world. If frebreze made a scent that smelled like books then I would certainly try it. I remember on of my first books I read was The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. And I read the one my dad had had for years. It had a plain black cover, the pages were yellow from age and it had ink drawings of the story pop up every once in a while. It was a good read, and I loved the old book smell.
I 100% agree with everything on this list. Especially the discussions part. Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had have started with talking about a book.
I like it a lot better than small talk, I think book discussions help me as well as other people.
I love this post! What have been your most favourite books recently?
I think my most recent one was A Dog’s Purpose, it was refreshing to have a new concept on what the afterlife might be like. I might get A Dog’s Journey, but now I’m currently reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for my bestseller’s class.
yes yes and more yes!!! Books are always the answer, that is my mantra
There is absolutely nothing better thank book smell. I adored this post and related to every single point!
Just to let you know, I have nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award, I’d love to see your response! If you do fancy doing it, the link is: https://amytalksbooks.wordpress.com/2017/06/09/mystery-blogger-award/
Thank you so much! Sorry I hoped i replied back a lot earlier then this a while ago. ^^’
Spot on break down on what reading can do and symbolize. Any good books to recommend?(Been kinda stuck on a loop of mystery books lol)
If you’re into crime I’d say go for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Women in Cabin Ten, Gone Girl, or In a Dark Dark Wood. I not really an avid mystery book reader. ^^’
Great graphics and list. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Those are all good reasons to read. I guess I’ve never thought about why I read. It’s just enjoyable to me. 🙂 And I get to learn stuff.
I agree with every reason, Athena. And I can’t think of any you missed!
Thank you! 🙂
Yes! In light of your last (but not least) point, Athena, I though you might enjoy this: https://mitchteemley.com/2014/12/02/ill-buy-a-kindle-when-they-create-a-book-smell-app/
The first thing I said to my mother, two seconds after birth was, “Why couldn’t you have sent a flashlight and book to me so I could have spent nine months reading?” I read a lot…all the time…constantly. I love books. I do not cry, however, and rarely read novels or books that have “heartbreaking, heart wrenching,” or anything else, on their cover. 🙂 I read a lot of non fiction and urban fantasy…love books about Paris in the 30s-40s and so many other things. I’m with you all the way on books and I love that drawing of the coffee on the pages. Perfect and beautiful. I also agree that reading helps understand pretty much everyone. I’m reading a lot of books on women artists and their work and I’m finding out so many great things about them and their work. I sometimes read in cycles…everything I can get my hands on, on a certain subject, then I switch to something else. I usually read at least three books at the same time and often read something else straight through, in-between. LOL You know how that is. I never finished books I don’t like or books that bore me. Never. Too many good things to read to wast time reading things I don’t care about. This was a fun post. Thank you. 🙂
Thank you fro commenting! I find books I don’t like too hard get through sometimes and I usually don’t end up finishing them.
I don’t really like books that say, “heartbreaking,” or, “heart wrenching,” either because I don’t think telling a reader how to feel is really going to make them feel it. You have to try and come up with something that might invoke those emotions in some people.
Good point, telling the reader what to expect, isn’t a good idea. I just think there’s enough misery in the world, so I don’t want to read about it. Everyone likes different things, so there’s something out there for everyone. 🙂