So here’s the dilemma: Read a book or run around outside? The long-awaited warm days are here, prompting thoughts of bike rides, runs, softball, soccer or whatever-else-you-can-play-outside. But there are so many good books that require attention. What’s a gay to do?
This week, PGN says go read a book. (Don’t worry, next week we’ll say something else. June is Pride!)
We know that reading isn’t everyone’s favorite activity. But maybe that’s one reason why we like it. We like that we can use our imagination to make our own pictures to go with the stories. Yes, it’s more engaged than some entertainment options, but less so than others.
We also like that it allows us to gain information without human interaction, interruptions or myriad interpretations. We don’t have to worry about another book popping up in the middle of the one we’re reading.
Reading has other benefits too. Reading allows you to be emotionally, intellectually and rationally engaged and to gain in-depth insight in ways that other media don’t offer. Books don’t mind if you read for five minutes or five hours, allowing you to segment your information or take in large chunks.
Don’t get us wrong: We love the Internet, TV, movies and whatever other media you throw our way. But books are different. Books were the first way that written communications became available to the masses — meaning language, knowledge and literature. (Thank you, Johannes Gutenberg.)
Books have a weight and authority that is undeniable. While some self-published nonsense (and occasionally publishing-house fictional memoirs) might slip through, books can usually be relied upon to be relatively accurate, unbiased and truthful. Moreover, they are tangible and easy to reference: You don’t have to worry about trying to remember which anchor on what station said what. And you can always reread them to glean more details or gain new understanding of a topic.
Books are also grounding and empowering. They won’t make you feel insecure or inadequate. They can serve as a reminder that yours are not the worst problems in the world — and that you can face whatever problems they are.
While it’s not good to eschew all human interaction in favor of reading (you need to cultivate meaningful personal relationships somehow), taking time to read a good book can broaden your horizons, give you a sense of accomplishment and deepen your empathy for others.
Besides, you can’t swat flies with a laptop.
