Like many people of my generation, I find it hard to sit down and read a book. There are too many distractions. Why read your textbook when you can watch how-to youtube videos and save time? Why read your required reading for class when you can just sparknote it? Why read a novel when you can just watch Netflix instead? Even when you have free time, there are more fun things you can be doing, so why even try?

I struggle with this from time to time. Even when I put my mind to reading a book, my attention span is usually brief, and I cannot focus on the task at hand. It’s not that I’ve never finished a book, it’s that it is challenging to be consistently reading. Reading can be a huge drag, especially when it’s required. I feel like many people my age experience this feeling, that reading is a chore. Required reading takes most of the enjoyment out of what makes a story interesting. I’ve had to read some really boring books for school, and I can’t help but think that that has affected my attitude towards reading. Even when I find a book that looks interesting, it’s hard to find the time to sit down and read. Recently, though, I’ve been in a situation where I’ve had a bit of time on my hands, and I figured I would start reading a novel called The Jungle by Upton Sinclair that was lying around on my desk for some time. I had started the book back in the spring and maybe read about sixty pages, but this time, I stuck to it, past the distractions, and you know what? It was actually very interesting. I became immersed in another time and place, and didn’t even realize it. Though it was a very depressing book, I felt like I actually experienced something and saw life through another lens, something that is needed from time to time. It felt good. I felt like I was actually using my brain and experiencing what these characters went through as opposed to being spoon fed the whole thing through a computer. I felt like I took a small weight off of my shoulders and that I actually did something that will benefit me. It felt worthwhile, and it was something that I’d like to continue doing and I encourage whoever is reading this to find a good book and take a little time for yourself, it feels great and I promise you won’t regret it. Believe it or not, you might learn something from doing it. I found that out when I actually did do the reading for my Psych class last term, and I still remember some of it! All kidding aside, reading a good book or reading a piece on an interesting topic is incredibly worthwhile and a privilege. Now go and read!