To read or not to read?

I have just picked a new book for my latest reading. It is about America from the Age of Discovery to a world at war. The book is really thick and only God knows how long would it take for me to finish reading it.

I must admit here that I am not an avid reader. I am not like other people who read Charles Dickens’s books at the age of seven! I acquired this habit of reading only when I entered college (and this was a year ago!).

I have friends who have read different books from different genres. Their knowledge about world history is just in their heads. They can easily argue about different masterpiece of literature works while I just sat at one corner trying hard to understand their arguments.

At one point, I realised that it was my mistake for not to take an early initiative. I should have started reading since I was in MCKK. I should have saved some of my allowances to buy books from any nearest bookstore. Or I should have just borrowed some books from the library.

There is only one underlying reason for my problem. At one point, I chose to become ignorant about the world outside. I was so sure that ignorant is bliss while actually it is entirely not true.

Why it is very important for us to read? It is because through reading, it is the most effective way in giving you new knowledge, information and facts.

It is also true that a socio-economic background of individuals may determine whether one can become an avid reader or not.

It is a simple argument that those who come from rich families can afford to buy more books since books are quite expensive.

Thus, in term of access to knowledge, they have a better one compared to those who live in the middle class. The rich parents give more encouragement to their children by buying them books since they were young. In other perspective, the children are given more opportunities simply because they have the capacity to do it.

However, given the reason above, it should not stop those who cannot afford to buy books to stop reading. There are many other alternatives (the ones that I have mentioned earlier). The only question is ‘do you have the drive to do it?

Do I have the drive? Well, for the time being let me answer it by saying ‘yes’. I do have the will which constantly keeps me in touch with the books.

Knowledge is powerful to a point that it can change the world. So, let us begin with a simple step. Reading is not an obligation but it is a vehicle which will take you into an unknown adventure through an ocean of words, ink and paper.