Books as Life

In an era where everything is available at the swipe of a finger, patience seems to have become a forgotten virtue. And reading requires time, effort, concentration and of course patience. It seems that while the older generation has forsaken the reading habit, sadly enough, the current generation, nurtured on a diet of instant gratification, finds it increasingly challenging to commit to a book or on spending time to read, what to speak of making reading a hobby

- PRAVESH JAIN

Have we inadvertantly divorced our best life partners ~ books? Books are life partners that help you build your life better while making you experience love, warmth, romance, wonder, adventure and thrills. Above all, they guide you as friends, philosophers and guides imparting the right knowledge and wisdom to lead a life that is purposeful and beautiful.

When was the last time you read a book of your interest? Ask this of yourself and you will realise how the reading habit is dying slowly.

But the big decline in reading among the current generation is a cause for greater concern, raising questions about the future of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, the wisdom of life and the future of civilization.

What could have caused this? When I start thinking about this sorry state of affairs, I discover there are several culprits, playing their roles in destroying the reading habit.

First is obviously the technological tsunami that crashes on our doorsteps, every now and and then. It is as if we are living in an age of everyday obsolescence. Even before we are fully done with understanding one technology, the other is already knocking at our doors with more temptations.

It is no secret that technology has transformed our lives. But although it has brought countless benefits, it has also inadvertently dampened the reading habit. We simply don’t have time. We are often so busy handing this information overload that we possibly never find time for a book.

With screens dominating our waking hours, smartphones becoming the new life style, with loads of social life content and beyond, and attention spans dwindling, books and reading have taken a backseat, especially for those who spend a sizable time of the day as students learning courses, or people doing any type of regular job or business for a living.