In a time when people are so engrossed in their phones and social media, scrolling endlessly for hours, and focusing on their digital lives and those of many others they might not even know, people sometimes forget the power of reading. With the rise of technology use in the world, people are reading books less often. For billions of years, books have been a beacon of knowledge for everyone. The many different genres and styles of books from various authors provide people with entertainment, information, or different insights about things in the world. Reading is not only a way to tackle boredom, but it can also strengthen the brain when reading for long periods of time. Unlike the short videos on social media that lower the attention span, reading strengthens concentration as the brain reads for long periods of time. It also expands the vocabulary because, as people read, there will be many words that appear and get assimilated into the vocabulary. These will be beneficial in school, as an expanded vocabulary and a focused brain can aid in absorbing knowledge in school. 

Many books inform about the parts that people don’t see, such as the downsides that show the true colors of society, or the upsides that make life worth living. This allows the readers to experience life through different lenses. Reading about things that people are unfamiliar with can build empathy because it gives people the opportunity to understand and empathize from a different perspective. This will not only aid in personal growth, but it will also help people understand things in real life, which is great for society. 

Obviously, people still read books in the world, but it has definitely decreased over the last few decades. However, technology is not the sole reason for these results. In fact, technology can also be used to read books digitally. The lack of reading is also caused by easier entertainment alternatives, such as social media, streaming platforms, and gaming, which entertain people with little mental effort. Also, some people just don’t want to read. People don’t read books for leisure, and mostly read them when it’s a requirement. Although fewer people are reading for fun today, it’s never too late to start or rediscover this habit. Even if it’s just a few pages a day, reading can go a long way.