6 (Non-Cliched) Reasons Why I Love Reading

This is a fun topic to think about. What exactly do I love reading, and why? There are the cliched reasons: "It takes me to a different place." "I feel somehow enriched/bettered by reading." "I love the feel and smell of books." These are just a few of them, which I wholeheartedly agree with.

However, with this post, I wanted to look at some other reasons why I, personally, love reading. I read mostly from the history (nonfiction), historical fiction, and mythology genres. I rarely stray from these. I'll maybe read 1-3 books, at most, that are from a genre other than the three I just named. (I think I've mentioned this on the blog, but I thought it would be good to reiterate the fact.)

Here are 6 (non-cliched) reasons why I love reading.

Reason 1: I can pretty much read anywhere and anytime.

Since I utilize all book formats (physical, electronic, and audio) as much as possible, I can read anywhere and anytime. I could be waiting for an appointment, pull up the Kindle app on my phone, and get a bit of reading in. I can read at the beach, the pool, before classes, and in every other situation.

Reason 2: It gives me another form of connection with people, and not just the ones in my immediate circle.

We can connect with people on so many levels, and books are just another way to connect. If you see someone holding a book you've read, you can start up a conversation with them about it, even if you don't know the person. (Just be a bit cautious if they're already reading - we all know that we, as readers, don't like being interrupted as they read,)

Reason 3: There are so many ways to tell stories, which books do so well.

There's no single way to tell a story, and there's no single way to write a story. And this is why books are such a great storytelling method. You can have books written in prose, verse, email, text, and so many other ways.

Reason 4: It challenges my typical perspectives and worldviews.

Even if I didn't read mainly history, historical fiction, and mythology, reading has an innate tendency to challenge my typical perspectives and worldviews. It makes me think of how one situation/event can affect multiple people in different ways. It also makes me think of how things that are "normal" for me aren't necessarily "normal" for everyone else.

Reason 5: Reading means, in a way, I'm not alone.

This reason can sort of factor into Reason 4, but it needed its own tip. Certain situations portrayed in books, no matter what genre the book is a part of, have happened in one way or another to people around. And if there is a scene or event in a book that I relate to for whatever reason, there is a 99% chance that other people also relate to that scene or event.

Reason 6: Reading means that my time is well spent.

This isn't to say that my time can't be well spent doing other activities. However, I know that when I read, I always have a good time reading. And, for me, that means that I spent that time well as I read.