Why I Consider Books As The Second Most Useful Set of Helpers in Taking Lead In My Life

Other than the inspiration I got from watching the video above, I was prompted to write this posting mainly because I got reminded by my own set of memorable experiences in reading books all these years. Not to sound preposterous here, but I can claim that I've been reading books as far as I can remember being up on my feet. I was an early reader because I was influenced a lot by some relatives and family members whom I would see reading books, magazines and the like. My parents would buy me illustrated comics that have been among my earliest reading materials. We would have cabinets at home lined with books when I was growing up. Also, I was exposed to Sesame Street on TV where I learned so much on the English vocabulary, counting, numerals, symbols and, other tools used in improving your skills in reading. 

Books, needless to say, are essentially subversive materials, whether you agree to this notion or not. And reading them, particularly the best ones, literally will change directions of your life. But you don't have to take my word for it. Just observe and learn about the lives of the most important people in the world. Some examples: Jesus Christ,  himself, was into reading. In fact, in one of the narratives where he read parts of the Torah, he even proclaimed that what had been written has become real and actually happened in the very eyes of those gathered around him to listen to him read aloud from the holy books. And we all know that Mao Zedong was a book reader. He learned so much from his books, such that he used them in leading China, which is now becoming more and more the leading nation in the world each day.  And have you heard about the Persian storyteller Scheherazade of the book 'One Thousand and One Nights'? She would have been forgotten by now if she didn't hear or read about the stories that she shared with a certain Persian king, who wanted her killed but who would eventually spare her life, marry her, have children with her and make her into his queen. 

You may consider books as your lovers in printed or digital formats, especially when you are down and you feel neglected and ignored by your loved ones (or those whom you believe should love you in return for the kindness you've poured on them). In the pages of books, you'll be embraced by all the warm limbs coming from the outcomes of the very minds of the book authors. You'll be heard, strangely. At times in your reading experience, you'll get a sense that you're being listened to. And books are not exactly passive lovers as they feed you with a lot of ideas and that sense of wonder and accomplishment when you dwell on each word found in the many pages of your books. From this moment on when you feel depressed, you can always go back to reading the pages of your books that have been waiting for you for some time because you had been busy in other activities in your daily life. 

Practically every topic in life has been written in books. And a lot of these books have been gone forever (remember the famed Library in Alexandria that survived for hundreds of years until it was burned mainly because some groups of people believed books were dangerous things to possess, and so, they have to eliminated them once and for all). So many writers have been around before us and they have had the courage and took the hard time required to write books. Just do a research first so you'll discover that these statements are more truthful than falsely claimed here. And in case you don't agree with this, you can start writing your own books. Just make sure you share them with the rest of the world. In today's life, writers can most conveniently write books and get them published without spending as much money as before. They just have to actually find time to write, rewrite, rewrite, and publish --- tough activities that can intimidate a lot (hence, they're not writing at all). 

I don't understand it but I've met a number of people who have been intimidated by me just because they've seen me reading books, and even in having so many books in places where I've lived. Among other activities I'm into, I actually make a living from marketing and selling books, the core of my inventory has come from my books (400+) that I have gathered, bought, read, collected through the years. At least, I know who are the people I should keep some distance from, unless they go out of their way to reach out to me from time to time (which is just fine with me). 

And indirectly related to my efforts in book reading, I've met so many people who would give me their books, mainly because they wanted to help me out in my business. I'm not sure if they're into bookreading themselves. But I'm assured that I have known so many wonderful people who have recognized the value of books in our collective daily lives. In spite of most skeptics' belief in craziness of the idea of reading as a must-do daily activity as well as in marketing and selling books, you can be assured that the market has been expanded so long. These days, you don't really need to read the bestsellers; you just have to search online and you'll get all the chances to buy any book you may have in mind. Make sure you read those books you've ordered (or else, start your online bookselling venture, too).

Bookreading, chances are, will help so much in opening your eyes to many perspectives about life, people, places and events all over the world. In fact, you don't even have to travel physically to places unknown to you but you can do that easily by just reading books about these places. You'll meet and talk with people who have lived so many ages ago by reading books about them (or even those books they wrote themselves). You'll understand the nuances and differences of each individual by poring over the best rated books about people. You'll appreciate yourself better as you continue reading books that help clarify who you are in relation to others in your community and those living different lifestyles from yours.

And why do I say books are the second most useful set of helpers in taking lead in my life? We still have to go out of our way to connect, relate, communicate, experience loving and supportive links with other people. The wise among us have learned it early on that by merely connecting with others, they gain so much useful knowledge in life.