Why we should all be readers

Dear readers,

March brings many celebrations—too many to list—but among them are St David’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, International Women’s Day, and World Book Day. In fact, the whole of March could easily be celebrated as a month of books. And that is where I would like to pause for a moment.

There are more books in the world today than any single person could ever hope to read in a lifetime. Yet the culture of reading for pleasure has largely disappeared from vast parts of the population, replaced by the quick, effortless entertainment offered by mobile phones.

Reading does not provide instant gratification, because it requires effort. It is a skill—an art, even. At first we learn to read letters and words, but with time we begin to understand deeper meanings. Eventually, we learn to peel back further layers and uncover the hidden ideas within literary texts.

Why does this matter? Because although we have more books and more writers than at any other point in recorded history, fewer people are willing to read for pleasure. This is not only bad news for authors and publishers; it is troubling for society as a whole. A growing body of research links reading for pleasure with higher academic achievement, stronger cognitive skills, and the development of empathy and social awareness. Through nothing more than words, we deepen our understanding of the world, of ourselves, and of the people around us.

Reading a good piece of literature is like a loving relationship: it takes time to develop, but the rewards are lasting, profound, and life-changing. Like a loving relationship, reading makes us better people. Like a home-cooked meal, it nourishes us. Yet too often it loses out to the world of “fast-food” entertainment—quick, easy, and lacking in depth.

Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to this challenge. There is no magic formula that will suddenly make everyone a reader. But we can begin with a simple idea: read as many books as possible, and encourage others to do the same. Share stories, talk about them, and celebrate them.

Happy reading in March—and throughout the whole year.

Love,

Natalie Nera on behalf of Fragmented Voices