What Is the Purpose of Reading a Book?

What’s the purpose of reading a book?

Is it to show off your intellect, is it to complete everything as quickly as possible to move on to the next one, or is it to pass time? Or is it to learn something life-changing from it?

So many stupid questions.

What’s your purpose in reading a book?

I’ll use a line from Francis Bacon’s essay “Of Studies” while writing about the subject.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and a few to be chewed and digested.

It means some books are just partly worth it, while others you don’t have to bother too much about, but then there are a few extraordinary books that you need to pay complete attention to and slowly learn everything from.

Going back at all the questions I asked So what’s the purpose of reading books?

Speaking about myself, I don’t really read fun fictional books, so I can’t say much about them. Most of the time, I only check nonfictional books. I wasn’t interested in reading before, but eventually I learned its importance and found it better than watching some TV.

My purpose with books is to learn from them and absorb as much as I can. Although it is not possible to absorb them completely, I mark up certain important points and pages. I specifically note the page number of important points in my personal diary so I can recheck them from time to time. I have also been planning to reread a few good books. There are so many of them that I need to check, but I’m taking my time reading and absorbing them at my own pace.

And with time, I’ll surely like to check out fictional books too because cool stories are fun to read.

Reading these important and extraordinary books has surely provided me with new perspective. Although I won’t say that I’m completely adopting my life based on what I’ve read, I’m surely modifying and adopting certain important things that I feel are good for me and can help me be a better version of myself.

I don’t use books for escapism. Well, you can’t really escape anywhere while reading nonfiction books anyway.

I also mentioned in one question if the reason behind reading is to show off intellect.

I’m using another line from Bacon’s essay to talk about it.

Read not to contradict and refute; not to believe and take for granted; not to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

The summary of this paragraph is that you should not use your reading to show off. The purpose of reading is to grow ourselves so we can think more reasonably.

Although you can find several other summaries for this line that are slightly different and more detailed, I’m just explaining what I got from that line.

I love this specific text because it keeps me grounded. Its not like I’m some kind of genius, but it basically gives me the idea that even if I become smarter, I should remember the purpose of the things I have learned. None of them are for showing off. it to improve myself and be better than before. I have been following these ideals and am never going to leave them.

So now I ask you again: what is your purpose for reading?

If you read to learn and be better, then that is good, but if the reason behind your reading is to show off your intellect and pass time, then that is questionable.

I do not have any interest in lecturing people about what they should do and how they should live; I just like to mention specific points, and that is what I am doing.

Books for me is love and I believe many others feel same way for them. We learn several things from them and can get insights and experience that can be helpful in our own lives.

So in any case, if you don’t read them enough, it’s better that you start doing so. It might bore you a little, but you will eventually find fun in them. Don’t be me; also check out fictional books.

There is no need to try to read at high speed; there is no point in reading if you do not understand anything from it. Take your time, read 5 pages a day, and slowly increase the number of pages. It is going to be a good experience.

By the way, “Of Studies” by Francis Bacon is one of my favourite essays. You should surely check it out. It will give you some nice insights.

See you guys next week.