By Jessie Schirrick Posted April 17, 2013
I make it a priority to keep a book in hand, as I have found that it balances me intellectually between all the media and technology of modern times. I have also noticed, in my experience of reading recreationally, that my understanding of complex vocabulary has broadened exponentially.
The problem is, that although I enjoy reading on my own, recent statistics have proved that most other people my age don’t. Pleasure reading dropped 23 percent in 2008, in comparison with 2003 from 65 minutes a week to 50 minutes a week, according to a survey administered by the “Washington Post.” A study conducted last January by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported a much more drastic decrease in recreational reading from 45 minutes to 30 minutes.
Others argue, that they are reading just as much, but in other ways than the traditional, cover-to-cover book format.
“They could be reading on the cell phone, in games, on the Web, on the computer. It doesn’t mean they’re not reading, but they’re not reading using the printed page,” said Sandra Hofferth, of University of Maryland. Nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/
Society should take advantage of the technology available to us because it actually makes obtaining books much more convenient (i.e. iBooks, Kindles, Nooks, etc.)
My peers have generalized books as being boring and outlandish, much like the classic novels they are assigned to read in school. However, there are many book series revolving around the lives of teens and common issues young people experience. Ellen Hopkins, a popular young adult author has written many books with the purpose of getting teens interested in reading.
Reading is unquestionably beneficial to anyone who is willing to take the time to do it. It opens the doors of intelligence and creates a brighter path for the future of America.
