Reading As Feeding

Reading As Feeding

The word life is very attractive for someone who is truly living, as many merely exist to survive . However, we spend each second, minute, day, month, year, and ultimately, an entire lifetime. Whether we want to or not, we cannot stop the passage of time—It is beyond our control. Yet, we can choose how to live each moment, each one being unique and irreplaceable. To make informed decisions on how to spend these moments, we need knowledge, and one of the richest ways to do so is to read. Through reading, we discover the reality of truly living. It should be our goal to join the ranks of those who are genuinely alive, and we can take this journey through reading.

Life is certain, yet its span is limited, for death is inevitable. Therefore, we must strive to live our limited years with complete meaning. To live a life of purpose, we need experiences that life brings. Since our own time is short, it is essential to learn from the experiences of others— particularly those of intellectuals, philosophers, and thinkers—and reading is the best medium through which we can do so. A single book can encapsulate a lifetime of wisdom. Imagine if a person, at twenty-five, starts reading one book a month; a year later, he will have gained insights from twelve distinct lives. The reader will be wise beyond his years, able to understand and perceive the world and its affairs in ways that many at fifty may never achieve. Meaningful words can inspire a meaningful life.

It is unquestionable that we live among fellow humans. Each of us is rational, processing the world through reason, which is founded on knowledge. Since books are storehouses of knowledge, reading them is crucial. Remember, regular reading fosters reasonableness. A reasonable person communicates thoughtfully, acts wisely, loves judiciously, and, above all, his presence becomes valuable to others. Just as we nourish our bodies with food, machines with fuel, and electrical equipment with power, we must also nourish our minds. Our minds need sustenance too, in the form of ideas, beliefs, theories, philosophies, concepts, information, and knowledge. The best source of these is books. Through reading, we can feed our minds. What is more is that this is not a one way process. With proper reading, the mind—our body’s commanding force—provides the right instructions, leading to meaningful actions, achievements, and ultimately, satisfaction in life and a positive change in the world. It is important to note that by reading, we do not mean simply pronouncing words. We mean reading between the lines—fully understanding and feeling the impact of each word, phrase, and sentence.
If you recognize the value of reading but are unsure how to choose material, consider the
following:

1. Reflect on your level of education.
2. Choose a book that will help you achieve your goals—something that benefits both you and the world.
3. Pick a book that refines your morals, tempers negative emotions, inspires action, or increases self-awareness.
4. Even if a book offers only a small amount of good, I still recommend reading it. Finally, I suggest you read and learn from the most sacred book in the world, the Holy Qur’an.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are based on the author’s opinions and/or the source(s) cited, if any, and do not necessarily reflect the position of UNIT313.

About the Author

Numan Ejaz Khan (pen name: Nomi Khan) is a young intellectual and aspiring writer from Swat district, Pakistan. With an impressive background in English literature and linguistics, Nomi Khan serves as a distinguished educator in his region. His unique ways of teaching and learning, fueled by his strong drive for philosophy and deep thinking, challenge the norms and inspires not only his students but also his peers and colleagues.