A Case for Reading - Issue #8

By Karleigh Provost

Taken from karleigh4.wixsite.com/everything

For centuries, reading has been a respected art and has been regarded as a means to gain

knowledge and pass it along. The art of reading, though not as often appreciated as it used to

be, is a clear, concise, and creative way to gain information. Reading is a valuable tool; a

book in the hand of a student is a drill in the hand of a carpenter, as information can be used

in daily life like a tool can be used in carpentry. The appreciation of practical reading has

deteriorated due to the many distractions modern culture provides. Though taking up

extensive time, the massive decline of relevant reading in our culture is devastating to the

intellectual future of our nation, as the expansion of practical knowledge through reading

is minimal.

In fact, many say that extensive reading is an old-fashioned tool that takes up much

valuable time. Practical reading does take up substantial time that could be used for other useful purposes. Reading about a specific topic attentively enough to absorb plenty of applicable information can take the greater part of a day. Someone arguing against using

expansive reading as a tool for gathering information might say: Why would someone take

hours reading out of several sources when he can simply Google his topic and read a few

summarized paragraphs? While this is partly true, one would miss gaining a wealth of other

knowledge. Ariel Abke makes the true claim that if someone reads, an adventure is in store.

The great amount of vocabulary, facts, and general information one gains by reading are like

literary gems set in the precious metal of a book comprehensively read.

Sadly, the decline of our nation is largely due to the technology available at anyone’s

disposal and could be easily mended by more learned people leading it. And how will they

learn but by reading? Although technology is wonderfully advanced, it could very well cause

devastation to this nation’s future, as it discourages practical reading. In the past, great

minds have helped support this nation, but today, the general populace as a whole is not

nearly as educated as when Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin invented and

philosophized. Where are the geniuses of this modern era? Where are those who will lead this

great nation? They could be anywhere, everywhere. Who is that man walking on the sidewalk?

He is a thinking, reasoning person who could become a great leader of philosophy if he had the

learning that could be gained by reading. Who is that woman in the self-checkout line? She is

a mother capable of amazing feats and could be an ideal if she would only gain solid

information by reading. What this country needs is a people that enjoys practical and

relevant reading.

Furthermore, reading is a key means to access knowledge. America’s society rarely uses

this amazing tool. If left an option, the average student would much rather search the

information he needs than go to the resource section of a library and study in many different

sources among the jewels of literature that he has available. Lana Winter-Hebert states,

“Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when

it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle

any challenge you’ll ever face.” This thrilling gift can be used to enhance everyday life.

People ought to be using this wonderful tool to expand their practical knowledge. Without

the art of reading, society would not be nearly as culturally advanced as it is today, but

sadly, due to the decline of relevant reading, the advancement of culture is at a halt. In fact,

it is nearly declining. Many may wonder in what way culture has grown stagnant: was the

average teenager in the time of America’s founding constantly complaining about their school

load or chores? Clearly, the answer is no. In that time, teenagers were expected to work and

learn expansively. Reading practical and helpful information would, at large, give culture a

boost in the right direction.

Though taking up extensive time, the massive decline of relevant reading in this

culture is devastating to the intellectual future of our nation, as the expansion of practical

knowledge through reading is minimal. Human society has come a long way since the ancients,

but in a way, this culture is exceedingly behind them as, foolishly, this amazing tool of

reading that humans have been blessed with is not taken full advantage of. Reading is a means

to an end. It has a noble purpose that ought to be allowed to shine. Reading is a way to gain

knowledge and it also gives the reasoning mind the power to speak to those in the future by

preserving works of art in the form of the written word.