So Little Time, So Many Books

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"So many books, so little time" - Frank Zappa.

Now, if we reverse the statement, we get to the scenario that's persistent among the modern youth - "So little time, so many books."

Let us be pretty frank about it. The generation of today is no longer a voracious reader. True, there are book lovers around us, but again, if you compare the readers-non readers ratio that was prevalent, say, a couple of  decades ago, with the number today, you will notice a wide disparity.

The question to ask here is, why is reading a hobby limited to only a fragment of the society today?

When I was in junior and middle school, the internet hadn't made in-roads into households. There were no smartphones, no computer, no Facebook and Whatsapp to keep us glued to these devices. Thus, the sources of entertainment were limited to watching shows on Doordarshan, playing outdoor games with friends and of course, reading books. Hence, from the very beginning, book reading was inculcated deep into the system, the hobby gradually turning into a passion. Libraries were in full flow and people used to display their memberships with pride and elan.

Switch back to present day and you would find that the world has experienced a major shift. Books are no longer the preferred pastime. Boys and girls while their time away chatting with friends over social network, or chilling out with companions in the numerous hangout zones. Also, the rise in competition in every field, be it studies or jobs, have lead to a higher level of stress among the common people. The degree of patience and the availability of 'free' time has reduced. This again fails to give rise to new readers, since book reading requires a fair bit of concentration. Why would someone, having struggled ten hours in his workplace, or a student burdened with studies, spend an extra level of concentration reading books? They would surely resort to the internet and social networking to act as their stress busters.

However, as I stated earlier, there are definitely some people for whom reading is an addiction. They pick up one book after another, experiencing nirvana in the process. Unfortunately, they run the risk of being labeled as 'socially incapable nerds'. A non-reader would never realize the high that a reader savors while ruffling through the pages, but then, that's how it is.

We live in a free world where people have the option to pursue whatever hobby they want to. Reading is relaxing and therapeutic for the book lovers. At the same time, the others opt for avenues that suit their interests. We can never force people to read, but at-least we can show them the value associated with it. Books are not just a mean of gathering stories, but they also impact our knowledge in a positive way. We know about history and the current trends. Books transport us to places where we may not be able to go for real, and makes us witness several facets of the world we live in. Surely, reading books is rewarding, nourishing and cherishing, as well as relaxing.

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” - Charles William Eliot.

I agree.


This post is my official entry to IndiSpire - Edition 20: Reading books has reduced dramatically in today's youth. Kids who read books are treated as socially incapable nerds. What is your take on this topic? #BookWorm