Why Read?

Think of the difference between watching television and reading a book. Watching television is, essentially, a passive experience. You sit, you look, and you listen. Such concentration as you have is driven by outside stimulation. In fact, when you are caught up in a TV show (or even a commercial, for that matter), it is a lot more like being hypnotized than being aware and present with your thoughts.


Reading a book, on the other hand, requires active concentration. As you read, you must put in a great deal of effort to look at the words, figure out what they mean, and build up images, thoughts and opinions within your mind. Moreover, if you are reading and you stop concentrating, even for a second, everything stops. Nothing happens until you start concentrating again.


This is an excerpt from Harley Hahn's World of Reading. Read the entire page of

Why Should You Read?  Your Key to Mental Fitness

Dont's miss the section on a A Plan to Improve Your Reading, where you will find tips to help improve your reading skills.