I was very moved by the article “Twilight of the Books”. Reading is dear to my heart, and I believe that my success in life is due to my passion for reading. The article contained many shocking statistics showing the decline of the once beloved printed word. The author, Caleb Crain, stated, “According to the Department of Education, between 1992 and 2003 the average adult’s skill in reading prose slipped one point on a five-hundred-point scale, and the proportion who were proficient—capable of such tasks as “comparing viewpoints in two editorials”—declined from fifteen per cent to thirteen.” My jaw dropped a few centimeters when I read that statement. I always knew reading was on the decline, but I did not know it was that severe. I firmly agree that reading for enjoyment is falling by the wayside and it negatively affects people who choose not to read by choice. Crains theme throughout the article seems to be that lack of reading and comprehension harms people in all aspects of life. Crain states, “The N.E.A. chairman, Dana Gioia, wrote, “Poor reading skills correlate heavily with lack of employment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement.” I only have a handful of friends that enjoy reading as much I do, and the rest of my friends absolutely loathe it. My non-reading friends would rather watch a marathon of bad reality television than embark on a literary journey. My closest friend Melissa once confessed to me that she has only read two novels in her whole life.
The article deeply saddens me because I know how great of an impact it is to be able to understand and verbalize your thoughts on a piece of literature. My mom, Darlene, read to me when I was a child, and I credit her for my love of reading. Ever since I was young I have read everything I could get my hands on. My reading frenzy started out with “The Berenstain Bears”, R.L. Stines “Goosebumps” series, and then progressively grew to more sophisticated literature like “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. I am not sure how the adolescent horror series “Goosebumps” led me to love historical fiction, but it goes to show that once you get your creative juices flowing your interests only flourish. Every book I finished was a stepping stone to another piece of literature that had more depth and meaning to it. Crain states, “Perhaps readers venture so readily outside because what they experience in solitude gives them confidence. Perhaps reading is a prototype of independence. No matter how much one worships an author, Proust wrote, “all he can do is give us desires.” Reading somehow gives us the boldness to act on them.” I agree with this reference because I have experienced it firsthand. I have great confidence to go out and try new things. My knowledge of literature and vocabulary makes me confident in my speech and therefore I feel more positive about myself. I also believe that my passion for reading has helped me accelerate in school, sports, and extracurricular activities.
Many of the authors’ viewpoints coincide with my strong beliefs about how reading can positively affect your life. One of my most imporant points about reading is that it enhances critical thinking skills which are essential for success in school. Reading is a healthy and beneficial exercise for the mind. I have noticed that reading is not as popular as it once was, and it is a scary but true fact.
