Reading Provides Enriching Experiences

Coach Bob Knight of Texas Tech University had these words for describing the baseball great, Ted Williams: "You are not dealing with a guy with ordinary intelligence. He is well-read, extremely opinionated, and he backs up his opinions with reasons."

I like the portrayal, "well-read." It describes a person who has seasoned his or her intellect with a lot of the fine reading material we have available. They have gained experiences they can never forget simply through their exploration of written words. And they can use these experiences to help establish their point of view, ideas, opinions, and feelings.

It seems to a large degree that society deems an experience as something that has to be concrete. Why a person has to do something, go somewhere, or be involved in some group in order to claim they've had some experiences is a wonder as well. While I'm not declaring this perspective wrong, as we do want well-trained (and hands-on experienced) individuals in most of our trades and professions, we mustn't overlook the ideas and input of a well-read person.

Now what is it that helps reading to become a golden experience? If you compare it to watching movies, television, or other forms of media, it's easy to see how much more you get out of it. First of all, the brain gets more of a workout as it sucks the words in and makes a picture out of it, whereas the movie just bounces the picture off of you. The increased brain activity should help you pull more of the received information into your long-term memory as well.

Novels and other works of fiction not only provide you with the characters' spoken words, but with their thoughts and feelings as well. You usually can't get that much coverage in a movie. There just isn't enough time in the three hours most producers allow a film to last. And it's usually the thoughts and feelings that drive the characters in these stories as well. Also, another positive aspect is the thought processes and the actions of the characters are being modeled to the reader providing them new ideas and possible learning moments. These works give the reader an escape, an adventure, and of course, an experience.

Autobiographies, biographies, and other works of nonfiction can give the reader the same effects, especially if the book is on a person or topic of interest. These items allow the reader to flow through the author's viewpoints and receive new insight and even develop foundations for debate, belief, and ideas.

Most experts will mention and discuss some of the other benefits of reading and I will briefly mention them. An increased vocabulary, better spelling skills, and more confidence in writing and communicating are some key ones. New words and styles of writing are introduced informally to the reader as he or she is enjoying the experience.

I enjoy this quote by the Scottish-American writer, Gilbert Highet: "These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but 'minds' alive on the shelves." As a school librarian, I keep a copy of this quote on one of our shelves for the students to either read or be reminded. And I even try to remember it myself when I look at the books. They are simply people of the past or present who are providing the rest of us with wonderful experiences.

Reading sure does provide this enriching benefit. Adults, young and old, and children can all enjoy this activity and truly improve themselves through it. And in our current challenge, we do not have to worry about being able to afford gasoline to go on this magnificent adventure. So escape and get away for awhile. Open that book.