When I was little, I always hated reading, and then in the fourth grade, I found the Percy Jackson series and that really got me interested in reading. It intrigued me because (please excuse my rant) it is an amazing work of art watching Percy grow up and try to stay alive while on a quest. Throughout the series, you meet intricate people that will make you cry and laugh and feel like you are right there. How can I forget about the painful cliffhangers that will stab you in the back? All in all, it was an amazing adventure full of laughs and sometimes wanting to slap someone. Since then I have read so many books and could really see places that I have never been to. I even know what it’s like to be on a flying ship even though I have never been on one. I hope that when you finish reading this you feel motivated l to pick up a book and continue the reading you may have stopped.
1. Find a genre you like
Genre is a fancy word that classifies books since the beginning of time. If you would like to know about genres, you should watch this video by Black Irish Books. The first step to choosing a book is to narrow down your options by picking a genre. I always find books that interest me by staying in a genre I like. Personally, I like realistic fiction, romance novels, and a bit of action, but it’s near to impossible to find that combo in one book. I usually pick a book that fits one of the genres I like and hopefully, I end up enjoying it. A way to pick a genre would be to take use a resource like the “What Book Genre Is Right For You?” quiz. The quiz may help, but it’s not gonna give you your perfect genre, so go with what interests you.
2. Picking a book in your genre
Now that you have picked out your genre, it is time to finally find the book for you. If you are online or in the library, go to your genres section so you can have an easier time finding a book. Remember to always judge a book by its cover. It may be different from the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but that was talking about me and not actual books. Pick up or click on a book that has a cover that interests you, then read the blurb to see if you are still interested. Yay! We picked a book, I’m sure you saw a few other books that caught your eye, save them for next time. Now let’s get to reading, and tell everyone about how good the book was and the critiques you have.
3. It is okay to not like a book
It‘s okay to not like a book because that book was probably not made for you, but instead for someone else. When I don’t like a book, I put it down because there’s nothing wrong with putting down a book. I understand that you might feel bad, but it is your life and you shouldn’t feel bad about not liking something.
4. Don’t read the must-reads
The main thing that contributes to a book’s success is marketing. If I were to look up a list of must-read books, it would be a list of books that supposedly everyone has read. Does anyone know who is making those lists and who is profiting? You have to remember this is a business with a dark side to it. In 2020, the book industry was worth 132.1 billion USD and was scheduled to reach 138.5 billion USD by 2021. If you would like to know more about the reading market, you can read about it here.
5. It is okay to not like reading
I might like reading, but that doesn’t mean you will like it because we are two different people with very different experiences. I just want you to take the opportunity to try out something new and immerse yourself in a new world.
6. Benefits of reading
I have found out very recently that reading is actually good for you. I had only been reading for the enjoyment of it, to escape and complain about someone else who is living a completely different life from me.
A few benefits of reading are:
- Reduced of stress
- Lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Increased vocabulary and comprehension
- Contributes to a longer life
- Helps fight depression symptoms
There are so many more benefits that you can learn about on Healthline’s website. Turns out reading is not only good for enjoyment but assists with a healthier and longer life span.
I am sure I didn’t mention all the tips and cautions when trying to pick out a book, but I hope this article provides you with the motivation to pick up that book that is collecting dust in your attic. All things start in your mind, but it is your actions that transform your wants and dreams into reality.
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