How Did I Get Into Reading?

During a media interview recently, I was asked how I got into reading – and if I had advice for those who want to.

About me: I just took reading for granted. Ever since I understood how words form sentences that make paragraphs, how these fill pages, and a bunch of these pages make books narrating stories.

Everyone around me read books. From those who topped the class, to those who finished at the bottom. We competed to complete series by authors and characters. We tried to wrangle more than the one book we were allowed every week from the school library. We exchanged books – despite being wary of never getting back the ones we lent. So we would not return the ones we had borrowed.

How do others get into reading? There is advice galore out there but these will be effective only if one wills themselves to get into reading. Yes, you have to build that inner resolve. It is like getting into a regime of physical exercise. Till you are not committed to the cause, you will never get moving, and stay moving.

The same for reading. Once you have promised yourself to read books, then just start off. With easy reads to warm up – shorter books, not too complex, entertaining – and gradually build your concentration and stamina. Yes, it is not very different from improving your body fitness. And don’t make excuses along the way – because if you give long breaks, it will be just as hard to resume from where you left off.

Reading was integral to the lives of those above a certain age. No reason why it cannot be for others too, no matter where they are in the cycle of life.

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