I find it rather sad to think about how many people admit that they do not read books. In fact, many state that they don't read anything except short messages that they receive through social media sites.
Why do I think this is sad? Well, because the truth is that if you can read, you can learn anything, avoid loneliness and allow the whole world to open up to you in a way that might not otherwise be possible.
You can learn anything - Many people register for distance education programs and find that a great deal of the work involves self-study. Each module or lesson has references to other written materials and several hours a week can be spent reading.
Other individuals may have a natural curiosity and although they have not registered for formal education, invest a great deal of time reading so that they can learn about a variety of topics or a specific interest.
A third group of readers use books as a way to solve their practical problems and challenges. They might borrow a library book on plumbing so that they can fix their sink, learn how to knit so they aren't bored or research treatment options for ill-health.
You won't be lonely - My aunt used to say that a book is a good friend. Each week she would make a trip to the library to "stock up" on novels for the following few days. Reading takes you into the lives of the author's characters and you can quickly become so wrapped up in the plot that time passes quickly. Interesting conversation with others can result as you talk about some of your favourite tales. In fact, you might even decide to join a book club and regularly share with others through both intellectual and social means.
The whole world opens up to you - Books transport you into any culture that you wish to visit. You can learn about the geography, customs or politics of far-off places. Perhaps you will choose to learn a new language, make ethnic crafts or cook recipes from another country. Biographies of leaders also help you to learn about history in specific settings as well as events that have had a significant impact on the world.
What is extremely interesting is that the fact that people can actually learn how to read through books. Think about children who begin with picture books and move to ones with pages that each have one or two words. With time and practice, they are able to progress to more and more difficult text and soon they become literate. Immigrants can also learn the language of their new country through this method.
If you are interested in learning, wanting to avoid loneliness or curious about other cultures, you will find that one of the least expensive but most rewarding way to do this is by reading.