What Do We Read For?
Reading books and articles and novels has several uses. The first benefit of reading is that the reader gets pleasure out of it. The second use is that it helps a man in his conversation with others. Thirdly, it helps him in sharpening his judgement. Fourthly, it helps him to know the truth about the basic traits in human nature.Fifthly, it helps him to get relief from boredom, or fatigue and refreshes him. Sixthly, it increases his general knowledge. Lastly, it makes him a perfect human being.
Bacon, in his essay,”Of studies”, says, “ Studies serve for Delight, for ornament and for ability”. He again observes; “ Reading maketh a full man; Conference a ready man; And writing an Exact man”. Bacon’s words point out the importance and uses of reading books. The reading habit should be started during boyhood or girlhood. Apart from reading the text books for the sake of the examination, every student should get into the habit of reading extra books. It will be useful to make it a hobby.
But the young student needs the guidance of the teacher and the educated elders at home in the matter of selecting suitable books. There are books for the hour, as Ruskin says, and books for all times. There are books and books, There are bad books as well as good books, The young student should read only good books. If he reads cheap and bad books his mind will be corrupted, his character soiled and his life ruined because he will be tempted by he bad books to lead a bad life which will get him into trouble. Following in the footsteps of the wicked men in the books, he will commit crimes and get punished.
To start with, he may read good children’s books containing morals. He will imbibe the moral principles during the formative period. As he grows up, he should read the good books recommended by the elders. At the same time he should acquire the habit of selecting good books to read. He may read books of short stories, plays, novels and biographies, as well as history, geography, newspapers and magazines. When he is above sixteen, he should read politics,poetry,drama,logic,philosophy-logy, Rhetoric. He should read extra books at least for two hours a day.
Story-books,novels,biographies,auto-biographies,translations magazines and newspapers are fit to be read in the study at home and during a long journey. Serious books like Philosophy, logic,Rhetoric,poetry, drama and politics are to be studied in the study. Books of history, geography and travel books may be studied in the study or in the parlor, or in the garden or in the veranda of the house.
There are different kinds of books for the intellectual feeding of the reader. Some books can be read casually or superficially . Some other books should be read thoroughly and the important sentences in them should be memorized and remembered. There are some books which should be read again and again with diligence and every point in them understood. Books on religion and philosophy, the holy text books, poetry and drama belong to this class. Bacon’s words should be remembered: “ Some books are to be tasted. Others are to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested”.
The books of different subjects have their individual uses. The tedium of a long journey is not felt by the reader who read suitable books during the travel. History books deal with the past experiences of groups of people or nations. The reader can gain wisdom through the reading of history. Geography helps him to understand the earth’s structure, the locations of the continents and the details related to the rivers, forests and mountains and volcano’s and plains, minerals found in each country. Poetry makes him imaginative. Sciences make him a keen observer. Mathematics makes him intelligent. Philosophy makes him a serious and good person. Logic and rhetoric give him the ability to argue sensibly. If he wants to prove his points, he should study the case reports in law. The sacred books make him pious an God-fearing.The study of literature helps him to understand human nature in all its aspects, the ironies of life and the meaning of life. His mind is ennobled by the study of Literature, Philosophy and the holy books.
Pleasant books like comedies and romantic stories make him forget his worries and become optimistic. Tragedies make him understand the working of Fate and Man’s powerlessness before it. They also chasten and purify his mind. He will have sufficient fortitude to face the troubles of his mind. Books dealing with voyages and land-travels as well as newspapers and magazines enrich his general knowledge. The books on political science tell him about the forms of government, liberty and the art of administration. The books on political economy teach him how to achieve the maximum happiness for the maximum number of people in a country. Law helps him to know about his domestic conduct as well as his social behavior . The reading of newspapers and magazines gives him information about the daily occurrences . Literary criticism helps him to understand literature better.A man often sticks to the reading of a particular subject throughout his life. It is no a commendable thing. He should also read books dealing with the other subjects.
Thank you,
R.Rajkumar.
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