The saddest thing I’ve read in a while:
I recently spoke with a junior who was stressed about her decreasing
ability to focus on anything for longer than two minutes or so. I tried
to inspire her by talking about the importance of reading as a way to
train the brain. I told her that a good reader develops the same powers
of concentration that an athlete or a Buddhist would employ in sport or
meditation. "A lot out there is conspiring to distract you," I said.She
rolled her eyes. "That’s your opinion about books. It doesn’t make it
true." To her, the idea that reading might benefit the mind was, well,
lame.Still, I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. I’m turning the
new-arrivals shelf into a main attraction in my school’s library.
Recently I stood Charles Dickens’s "Bleak House" next to the DVD
version produced by the BBC. Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson) graced
both covers. A senior fingered the DVD for a minute, then turned it
over to read the blurb. "The book is too long," she said. "Is the movie
any better?""You’re right. The book is long," I said. "But once
you start this one, you won’t be able to put it down, right from that
first page about the London fog.""I think I’ll watch the DVD," the student said.
Then I read this:
According to some cultural observers, "book" is becoming a substitute for "cool" thanks to the pervasive influence of text messaging.
As some of you are no doubt aware, when the "T9" predictive text
function is activated your cell phone will try to guess the word you’re
typing as you key it in on those frustrating number keypads. As it
turns out, when you try to type in "cool" – that is, 2-6-6-5 – phones
will, by default, suggest "book," and, according to some,
the kids are running with it, and "book" has become another word for
"cool." So, all you teachers out there, your work is officially done.
Books are now cool, literally.
Books aren’t cool. Yes, they’re book! What? No, wait. They’re not book, they’re books.
Oh, forget it. I guess I’m too old to understand why anyone would ever not want to read a book–whether it was book or not.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so glad that my children share my love of reading, it’s helped us all in so many ways.
I too am glad that my two daughters have inherited my wife’s love of books and reading. I firmly believe that they are more intelligent, are less inclined to hyperactivity and have a lower threshold of excitement because of their time spent reading (and thoroughly enjoying) books. I’m truly blessed that all of them spend more time reading actual books than watching TV and surfing the ‘Net!
I’m with you. I have a couple friends who almost never read books and I just don’t get it. At all. I am never without a book (or 2 or 7).
My heart hurts at the thought of kids growing up and not being given the love of books. How wonderful it is to just disappear into the world of reading for hours at a time… I pray my son, now 16 months, will inherit mommy’s love of the written word.
I love to read. I love that my kids love to read. I am always so surprised when I talk to someone who never reads or hasn’t read a book in 10 years–how can a person do this???
I read once that the average for adults reading was like 2 publications a year. I tried to figure out how many people weren’t reading at all because I read about 50-100 a year. So I guess there are 50 people that I make up for alone. That is crazy-weird to me.
They say if you want to pass on a habit to your kids you have to model it more than tell them to do it. I think I’ve got the reading thing covered.
I am such a believer in reading at a young age. We have been reading to The Boy since before he was born and he loves, loves, loves books… for now. I just hope we can sustain that interest as he gets older. I have also been force feeding my nieces, nephews and young cousins books, giving them as gifts whether they ask for them as not. My thought process is that if there is a book in front of them, in their house, maybe they’ll pick it up and read it. Don’t know if it’s worked, but I feel like I’m doing my little part.
I know so many non-readers – otherwise intelligent adults who just do not get why anyone would ever pick up a book for fun. I don’t quite get what went wrong with them, why books failed to spark their magic, but it’s definitely sad.
I always opt for the book first, over the movie – every time! And if the movie comes out, I’ll hurry to read the book before seeing the movie(or skip it altogether), because I love how reading lets me explore in my imagination (in the movies it’s already done for you visually). But, then I’m 45 years old – not a highschool or college student, so what do I know? Am I COOL?
My hubby only reads the occasional magazine — I DON’T GET IT!! I have a pile constantly by the bedside, by my desk, magazines in the car (for waitng in lines at tehdrive thoughs), taking me to a lirary is frightening — I take a LAUNDRY BASKET to carry the books home in! I can’t get the non reading…
You are so right. That is one of the saddest things I’ve read lately… in betwixt all my books, of course.
One of the most wonderful things I just heard my daughter say in the last week was this: “Mrs. Greer is one of my best friends.”
This statement was about the librarian at her school. And when Mrs. Greer saw my daughter, her whole face lit up and said, “Here comes my favorite reader! Do you have any books to recommend this week?” That does wonders for my daughter. She’s learning that books are not just an individual’s activity, but that they can be the focal point to a social event or conversations.
We have a rule that our kids can’t see the movie if they haven’t read the book. That way, they can see why the books really are (for the most part) better than the movies. Now they can point out how a director changed key plot points or left out important details that were endeared to them while reading the books.
I’m thrilled that my daughter has such a love for reading… just like her mom.
My kids wanted desperately to see the Chronicles of Narnia in the theater, and I saw an opportunity. We read it together, and then went to see it. It made the movie an experience, not just two hours of special effects. And that’s when we started a family habit of reading that I hope will pass on my love of books. I read books to them every day that are well above what they could read by themselves. And they love it. It has become their favorite way to spend time with me, and my favorite way to steal cuddles from the ones that are past that. How could anyone not want to read?
*sigh* (Oh, but by the way? I’ve given up on Grapes of Wrath).
Books will always be cool to me. Don’t y’all just love cracking open the cover of a book and dipping into the first page? I read Charlotte’s Web before I started kindergarten. Every Wednesday during elementary school we had “Library class” and we got to go to our school library and check out books and read for a whole hour. There is a quote I love that goes something like this: “The books you read and the company you keep shape your character”. Happy reading everyone!
No Way, Shannon! I totally loved the Grapes of Wrath (read for the first time three years ago). Oh well, can’t win them all.
I call people who can read, but don’t alliterate and my dad falls into that category.
The city of St. Louis is participating in The Big Read right now and encouraging everyone to read Fahrenheit 451. I’m reading it now. We’re not too far when folks no longer care. Soon we could be where they were. Okay, so maybe not literally, but we need folks to care, to read!
I know so many non-readers – otherwise intelligent adults who just do not get why anyone would ever pick up a book for fun. I don’t quite get what went wrong with them, why books failed to spark their magic, but it’s definitely sad.
I just have to say that I LOVE books! Who could not??
I saw Bleak House on the television first and am only reading it now. I much prefer to read the books first so I can have my own pictures of what places and people are live, but I am still loving reading it! Dickens’ descriptions are so clear and he brings his characters so completely to life.
Great post!! I loves me some book books!
I just finished reading Jim Trelease’s “The Read ~ aloud handbook” which at the back half of the book is filled with a treasury of books…it might help? Not sure if that helps at all…not sure you are even wanting “help”…but anyway, I love that book…too awesome!
I noticed this when we first looked for a house to buy. So many people live without any bookshelves. Their homes seem perfect and barren.
You’re so book, Chilihead, probably due to books.