How to Read a Book and Why

Reading is Power

Reading is the quickest, most flexible way of acquiring knowledge on our own. And, as everyone knows, knowledge is power.

If you don’t think reading is connected to power, think again: How many world leaders, CEOs, stock brokers, venture capitalists, scientists, policemen, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Supreme Court Justices, international diplomats, and other powerful people do you think can’t read?

Reading is Pleasure

Everyone is interested in something and everything anyone could be interested in has been written down somewhere. All you have to do is find it. Most kids who are turned off to reading get turned off in school because teachers make them read things they’re not interested in.

Getting Started

I listed two things – power and pleasure – that I think make reading worthwhile. What do you think? Why do people read? Why do you read? What makes reading worth all the time and effort? Why do people go crazy for Oprah’s Book Club? Why do so many people in our country feel that reading is essential to the welfare of our democracy and the health of our nation?