The benefits of reading are enormous as it enhances one’s knowledge, language and mental fitness. It is also one of the best forms of relaxation, however, unfortunately the reading habit globally is on the decline.

Daniel Belcher in his article: “The Benefits of Reading” aptly notes:

“For many, reading has many benefits that continue to enhance their lives. Their lives are bettered in some of the following ways: mentally, spiritually and socially. Also, if we develop a habit of reading we will become more confident and self assured and our abilities to comprehend and understand all types of information will drastically improve. Let’s examine further some of the benefits of reading.”

“One of the primary benefits of reading is that it exercises your mind. Your mind begins to bend and flex mentally, It stays loose and limber so to you can flow easier through the course of the day. The regular routine ensures that our mind stays in good shape just like physical exercise. There has to be a determination to make reading part of your life. If you understand the many benefits of reading, you will have no trouble adopting a regular habit of reading.”

“Reading has other benefits to the regular reader which is the ability to focus. When the mind is trained and channelled, it begins to pay attention more thoroughly. For example, when you are faced with some of life’s difficult and challenging assignments, you will have the ability to stay calm and objectively look at the problem, circumstances or required task. If you continue to read, you continue to stay focused.”

One of the major contributors to the decline in the reading has been new technologies which has virtually pushed reading to the back seat.

An article entitled ‘New technologies have affected reading habits’ by Mariam M. Al Serkal, Rayeesa Absal and Fuad Mohammed Ali Staff Reporters of The Nation provides some interesting information on the decline of the reading habit.

“As residents are online on an almost constant basis, it seems that reading books have taken a backseat on the list of recreational things to do.”

“In a recent Gulf News poll, 51 per cent of respondents said that reading books is on the decline because of internet, 21 per cent said they do not have time to read, 18 per cent said it was because of television, and 10 per cent said that books are expensive.”

City Talk took to the streets and asked residents if they think the habit of reading had declined, what was their favourite type of book and how much they read.

Abeer Mreihel, retail operation manager, Lebanon, 28, said: “It has definitely declined, because there are now more alternatives for entertainment, such as coffee shops, television and the internet. Technology is more popular than ever, so I think people prefer to read online. I only used to read when I had to study in college, but since then, I have never read a book.”

Here too in Guyana the reading habit has been on the decline and it is believed by some that the advent of television and information technology, (IT) has contributed to same. There was period in Guyana when book stores and libraries were swamped but that has dramatically changed and now these places attract small numbers. The resultant effect of this situation is that the standard and quality of the English Language has dropped and this is reflected at all levels of our society.

So there is a critical need to rejuvenate the reading culture across the entire country but this cannot be left entirely to the school system but rather it has to be tackled by every section of society.

In this regard, parents have a crucial role since the reading habit has to be inculcated at a young age and in most cases if this is done reading then becomes a life long tradition.

Against this backdrop the recent call by Education Minister Shaik Baksh urging children to read more is indeed a timely one. It would be hoped that this call would not fall on deaf ears but every section of society would respond positively and contribute tangibly towards arresting the decline in the reading habit.

Peter S. Jennison emphasising the importance of reading puts it succinctly: “The poor and the affluent are not communicating because they do not have the same words. When we talk of the millions who are culturally deprived, we refer not to those who do not have access to good libraries and bookstores, or to museums and centers for the performing arts, but those deprived of the words with which everything else is built, the words that open doors. Children without words are licked before they start. The legion of the young wordless in urban and rural slums, eight to ten years old, do not know the meaning of hundreds of words which most middle-class people assume to be familiar to much younger children. Most of them have never seen their parents read a book or a magazine, or heard words used in other than rudimentary ways related to physical needs and functions. Thus a cultural ‘fallout’ is created and the vicious circle of ignorance and poverty becomes reinforced and perpetuated. Children deprived of words become school dropouts; dropouts deprived of hope behave delinquently. Amateur censors blame delinquency on reading immoral books and magazines, when in fact, the inability to read anything is the basic trouble.”