For centuries, books served as a medium for knowledge and entertainment. These pages have enthralled the minds of some of the most important thinkers. Sadly, the digital revolution has caused books to fade into obscurity.
So to promote reading, million of bibliophiles around the world celebrate 23rd April as World Book Day. The date has been chosen to honour the great Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote), who breathed his last on this day. Book Readings, Book Exchanges, and Book Donations are organized on this day.
What was once deemed as fascinating and interesting, is now viewed as boring and mundane. But as J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, said “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” Meaning that no matter what your interest is, there is probably a book out there waiting to be picked by you.
Without wasting any more time, we are here to provide you with justifications on why you should inhale the smell of pages and dive deeper into the world of words and inks. And stick to the end of the article for some book recommendations by the author.
- Gain Valuable Knowledge
- Increases Empathy
- Reduce Stress
- Increases Creativity
- Increases our quality of sleep
- Thousand Splendid Suns
- The Women who ruled India: Leaders, Warriors, Icons
- 1984
- WILL TO CHANGE: Men, Masculinity, and Love
- Perks of Being a Wallflower
A person who reads has experienced thousands of lives, without moving an inch. Many uber-successful people have penned down their experienced and knowledge for you. It would be a waste if we don’t choose to learn something valuable from these exemplary lives.
Books provide an in-depth character study and inner monologues that help you to understand different situations. You can dive into the mind of a character suffering from an eating disorder or know the pain that a woman in war-zone territory experienced. Books like Thousand Splendid Suns can serve as a catalyst for the Anti-War movement.
Light-hearted books can distract our minds from the bedlam of the world. Our minds are over-cooked with our professional and personal lives, that burn-outs are being increasingly common in our modern world. According to Zippia , 89% of workers have experienced burnout in 2022. This level of mental exhaustion and stress can be harmful to both mental and physical health. Research has shown that even 30 minutes of reading can reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress.
Books can help you travel the world of some of the most insane ideas like motor cities, wizarding schools, and the one ring to rule them all. These enthralling worlds not only provide us with a source of entertainment but also inspiration. It is not uncommon for readers to come up with some of the most unique ideas. In fact, most creative people in the world are known to be voracious readers.
With so many things racing through our minds, we know that it is hard to fall asleep. But what if we said that your solution to sleep can be found within pages? Reading slowly relaxes your body and mind which helps in getting a good night’s rest. It also keeps you away from the screen, which has been known to reduce our quality of sleep. So, try reading a book before going to bed.
Recommendations:
A novel detailing the life of two women, Mariam and Laila, both of whom have been trapped in an abusive marriage. The novel takes you through the various historical periods of Afghanistan. As the narrative unfolds, you will find yourself weeping and questioning the morality of the world. No other book, in my opinion, can explain the plight of women better than this masterpiece by Khaled Hosseini
Did you know that Kitur Chenamma defeated the British years before Rani Laxmibai? Or the fact that Nur Jahan was trusted with running her husband, Jahangir’s empire. Unfortunately, so many more inspiring tales of women have been lost in the annals of history. But, Archana Garodia Gupta, has compiled a great collection of stories of female monarchs that can inspire us.
The term ‘Orwellian’ has been famous for anything in modern society that resembles the haunting dystopia penned in George Orwell’s 1984. The plot of the book engages with a totalitarian surveillance state, where all our actions are monitored by the government. Even loving someone comes at a cost in this fictional tale. It is a good book for anyone who feels as if we are heading down the route of fascism once again.
It feels like our way of raising boys is not doing any favours to society. The fact that most violent traits are done by men, should be a big concern for the community. Bell Hooks in this non-fiction book details how our way of raising boys is causing harm, and provides an alternative way of raising them. She explains the importance of boys being in touch with their emotions can be revolutionary.
A story about an introverted high school student named Charlie, and how his friendship with two seniors, Sam and Patrick, changes his life. It’s a great book for anyone going through their adolescence. The narrative takes you through various ups and downs, one might find themselves while going through their teen. This book is filled with life lessons, that will stick with you forever.
What are some of your favourite books? Be sure to recommend some of your favourite books, this World Book Day.