Raphael Pires 

12 September 2012

Survey of mass communication         

           

Many people in today’s society believe that reading is nothing but an outdated source of entertainment. With such technological breakthroughs as the TV and computers, the necessity to sit down and read a book has been vanquished. This is a dangerous way of looking the situation. The brain is a muscle, and just like every other muscle in the body it needs exercise. Although it’s not always fun, it has to be done in order for it to grow. When I take on the task of reading I stick to specific reading habits, such as having a specific time to read, choosing a specific type of book I like, and making sure I stick with my favorite author.

            Personally I am not a huge fan of reading, I agree with the usual argument stating that “it takes too longs and is too boring,” but I understand that it’s a necessity. I am a big believer in working out and maintaining personal fitness. In order to practice what I preach I understand that the brain is a part of my body and needs to be worked out as well, so I do this by choosing a specific time to read. Just like I have a specific time of the day separated for going to the gym, I try to designate a specific time during the day to read. Therefore every night before going to bed I sit down at my desk and read a book. Whether it’s a book for school or just the bible, I make sure I do something to keep my brain healthy.

            As I’ve mentioned before I’m not the biggest fan of reading, but I must admit that I have grown fond of the Narnia books. My senior year of high school it was required of me to read the second book in the series (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe) and since then I’ve been hooked. I bought the complete series and have read it all, and now I am currently on the fifth book for the second time. As much as I like reading about a fantasy world such as the Narnia books, since starting the Alex Cross book assigned in class, I can’t get enough, I’m already excited to finish the first book, so that I can start the second, and eventually the third. I don’t have a specific type of reading I like, but I have really taken a liking to the short and to the point style of writing that James Patterson uses in his novels.

The reason I like James Patterson’s style of writing is because, like most people in today’s world, I am used to having my information given to me instantly. So why should my books be the same way? I have a hard time picking up a book knowing that I will be spending at least an hour trying to complete a single chapter. As childish as it sounds, I like the sense of accomplishment that I receive from books that have short chapters and keep everything clear and forward.

            By having the types of books such as “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Alex Cross” at my disposal I can continue my positive reading habits, even though I don’t consider reading a “fun” past time. I can continue to have designated reading times, and keep reading the specific types of books I like. Just because it’s not the most entertaining thing to do, doesn’t mean it’s not important.