Every Book Matters, but Every Reader Matters More

Reading matters more than ever and this is how we can preserve and promote reading in the digital age.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” Walt Disney

Open a Book

In our world overflowing with distractions, the act of picking up and opening a book can feel revolutionary. Every book, whether it's an old battered childhood favourite or a brand new discovery, holds the power to transform our minds and uplift our spirits. Reading is more than just absorbing words on a page; it's an intimate journey into other lives, worlds, and perspectives. It sparks joy, ignites creativity, and empowers us to think critically, dream bigger, and empathise with others. Whether you're flipping through pages of a comic or seeking knowledge, each book has the potential to leave an indelible mark on who you are and how you see the world and how the world sees you That’s why every book matters – because reading offers both the gift of joy and the power of wisdom and knowledge.

“There is no Frigate like a Book - To take us Lands away.” Emily Dickinson

Reading as Empowerment.?

Every book you open is to absorb the power of books as portals to new ideas and perspectives, helping you to challenge preconceptions and prejudices, giving you the tools to rethink the world around you. It’s a form of mental and emotional exercise that strengthens your capacity to think critically and to show an understanding of how someone else feels by imagining what it would be like to walk in their shoes.

“Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me from mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” William Shakespeare The Tempest

A Book as a Sanctuary

A book can be a sanctuary, offering a peaceful interlude in an age of constant distraction, with pings, notifications, and endless to-do lists. It’s easy to get caught up in the noise, the chaos of our hectic lives. The act of reading requires our concentrated attention, making us slow down, ponder deeply, and contemplate both our inner and outer worlds. In many respects reading, acts as a solution to the distractions that can overwhelm us.

Words are powerful and their influence is profound. Language moulds our thoughts, and by reading, we broaden our mental horizons. Reading not only enhances our knowledge but also boosts empathy and imagination. The words we absorb connect us to individuals throughout history and geography, spanning time, initiating new conversations.

"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life." W. Somerset Maugham,

The Joy of Discovery

Reading is an adventure. Each book is an invitation to travel into uncharted worlds and emotions, be it a new world, an alternate reality, or the complexities of the human heart.?The joy of reading lies in its ability to take us anywhere. And, in this click/like and self-centered world, the best thing that can happen to any one of us is to become everyone.

“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.” Roald Dahl

Books as companions.

Books stay with us long after we've read the last page. They offer companionship, comfort, and sometimes answer questions we didn’t know we need to ask.A good book can be a friend, offering wisdom, solace, or a sense of connection when we need it most.

“My alma mater was books, a good library…. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” Malcolm X

Profound Impact

You can never predict which book will have a profound impact on your life. It could be a novel that deeply resonates with you, a non-fiction book that sparks a new interest, or a poem that stays with you for an extended period of time. Every time we open a book,we enter a new world.

Every book has its magic, but the real magic is in the reader: Reading is a gift you can enjoy almost anytime, anywhere. A great way to learn, unwind, and even plan an escape from the everyday mundane and inhabit another skin.

I am reading "Orwell: The New Life" by DJ Taylor": George Orwell - was the non-de-plume of Eric Blair who remains a literary giant: Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four not only shaped our understanding of power and authoritarianism but introduced critical terms into our lexicon: 'Big Brother,' 'doublethink,' and 'de-personing.' These concepts have become even more relevant today as we navigate issues of surveillance, censorship, and political manipulation and being cancelled. D.J. Taylor’s biography, the first full study in twenty years, draws on previously unseen letters and fresh insights into Orwell’s early life, offering an insight into this self-mythologizing and complex writer whose words continue to shape our world.

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