Pleasures of Reading

If one is asked what exactly is the highest pleasure which a literate man enjoys, one can say without any hesitation that there cannot be anything greater than the pleasure afforded by books. Ever since the writing and printing of cohesive thoughts were discovered books have dominated human life. The pleasure and happiness which the habit of reading can bring are numerous provided one is sensible about what one reads. Great books bring before us experiences of great intensity and depth, ideas of life at various levels, and sensations we cannot normally have in our daily life. 

If one cultivates the habit of reading masterpieces, one's life feels enriched and one at the end of it is wiser and more thoughtful. Books can inspire us to think, move us to tears and tickle us to laughter. But if one chooses books indiscriminately, one would end up reading trash which can have an adverse effect.

Writing takes numerous forms, poetry, drams, novels, short stories, essays, and articles are some of them. Poetry gives the pleasure of reflective thinking. The drama unfolds a range of human emotions. Novels present a realistic picture of society. Short stories present a pageant of human characters and situations. Essays attempt to express a human opinion on different topics. Articles inform, educate and entertain. Travelogues help to give a vivid picture of different lands. Biographies and autobiographies narrate human experiences. A person who can benefit from the variety, depth, and beauty of literature cannot ask for a better form of pleasure. The pleasures of reading are elevating, emboldening, and entertaining.