I moved to my new office today and brought a few books. The other band director I’ll be working with said, “Wow, you sure have a lot of books.” I told him that I read quite a bit. He said that he doesn’t read, and we just kind of laughed about it. But then I got to thinking…
I am consistently amazed at how many intelligent people just simply do not find time to read. I am not the most prolific reader around or anything, but I do find time every few days or so to read a chapter or so out of a book.
Reading is one of the most valuable skills that we have. Sure people can read even if they don’t make a conscious effort to seek out literature of some sort, but they often limit their vocabulary in the process. As Atwood Townsend wrote:
No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.
What a shame that so many people find other uses for their time. I understand, because I used to do that. I don’t believe that I ever fully read any assigned reading from the time I finished 7th grade until I graduated from college. But I can honestly say that since I began sincerely reading last summer, I have done more for the quality of my life than I had in the previous ten years.
