“Reading is important.” How many times have you been told that? Every teacher I’ve ever had stressed the significance of reading. Yet, understanding why leisure reading (reading books of your own choice on your own time) is important, and finding the motivation to start reading, are two very disconnected things.
Today, I am always reading. Instead of spending my free time binging Netflix shows or mindlessly watching videos on YouTube, I read. However, this was not always the case. I used to hate reading. I was one of those kids who read the spark notes of books the day before a test instead of taking the time to read the book. I never read books I didn’t “have to”.
My excuse was that I didn’t have time to read. I was busy! In high school, I had basketball practice six days a week and often did not get home to start my homework until 8:30 P.M. In the little free time I had, I wanted to relax. I didn’t want to read. I would say that reading was just doing work for fun. Who wants to do that!
My attitude toward reading changed during the second half of my senior year of high school. As my workload started to lighten up and my basketball season ended, I found myself with a lot more free time. My dad encouraged me to turn to reading to fill that free time. To my surprise, I found myself enjoying reading. I have been an avid reader ever since. Now, even without tons of free time, I realize that fitting reading into my daily schedule is about prioritizing what I do with my time, not about how much free time I have.
Starting your reading journey is a daunting task. I mean, where do you even begin? There are so many books out there. If you aren’t already a reader, how do you know what genre you will like, or which books are good?
That’s why it’s important to find your reading “Sherpa”.
Finding Your Reading Sherpa
Each year, over 800 people attempt to climb Mount Everest. And despite many of them being experienced climbers, they are all guided by Sherpas. Sherpas are people from the Himalayan region who are renowned for their mountain climbing skills and knowledge of the terrain of Mount Everest. Virtually every climber needs the guidance of a Sherpa to successfully make it to the summit of Everest.
Reading, while of course far less dangerous, is like climbing Everest. Just like learning to mountain climb, starting one’s reading journey is intimidating, takes a lot of effort, and can easily be dismissed as too much work. It’s helpful to find someone with knowledge of the terrain you are about to encounter.
For me, my dad was my Sherpa. Growing up, my dad was always reading, and I always knew that at some point I would want to read like he does. But when I found myself with free time and the opportunity to read, I felt lost.
Luckily for me, my dad was there to provide me with guidance. When I started, he recommended every book I read. Eventually, I started to get familiar with the terrain, so to speak. I found the types of books I like. Now, I know what I’m interested in, what I want to learn more about, and what I’m looking for in a book.
As you start your reading journey, don’t be afraid to turn to family or friends who read. Ask for guidance. Ask for recommendations. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote:
Don’t be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?
Don’t be ashamed to find your reading Sherpa!
Connection Through Reading
Reading has expanded my perspective on many important issues, but most importantly it has strengthened my ability to empathize with people who have had different experiences or who come from different backgrounds. In short, reading has helped me connect with others.
Many times, when I felt disconnected from the world or felt that my problems were unique, I have found solace in reading. Often, reading books helped me see how similar my problems are to other people’s problems. Perhaps more importantly, I have recognized how small my problems are compared to the “big picture.” Through reading, I have come to appreciate the fact that life is complicated and that my problems are never insurmountable or mine to bear alone.
Listening
As I mentioned above, reading has strengthened my ability to empathize. This is largely because my listening skills have improved. When you read, you recognize that listening requires more from us than simply hearing what people say. It’s about tuning into how they say what they say and it’s about noticing what they don’t say, too.
In the classic, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character and narrator Holden Caufield has a lot to say. He is angry at the world, everything annoys him, and he often goes on long tangents while he’s telling his story. Yet, as we listen to Holden Caufield, we realize he is not just a kid with anger issues and a short attention span. He struggles with untreated traumas, feels failed by an educational system that doesn’t care about him or recognize his talents as an individual, and he feels that his problems are unique.
Reading helps us recognize that everyone is a little like Holden Caufield. We all struggle with something, and we all appreciate when someone takes the time to listen to us and makes us feel seen and heard. The Catcher in the Rye, like many other books, shows us the value of listening and the importance of being compassionate.
As I have tried to become a better listener, I became a better responder and a better learner. This has helped me perform well in school and at work—because when you listen, you learn more effectively. Listening has also helped me form stronger relationships both personally and professionally—I have found people like talking to someone who they can tell cares about what they are saying. People are interested in those who are interested in them.
Finding Values
My values have been shaped by the books I’ve read. And these values helped me pinpoint how I want to live my life, what I care about socially, and what I am interested in. Through reading, I have been introduced to social theories and studies that help me understand how the world works. Reading revealed to me the wisdom found in philosophies such as Taoism, Stoicism, and Buddhism.
It opened my eyes to the wisdom found across cultures and religions, too. Reading novels set in countries such as Afghanistan, India, or Spain helped me recognize the beauty in different cultures. It also helped me recognize the unconscious biases I was holding against the traditions of these different cultures. I realized that just because people in different countries eat, talk, or interact with others differently, that doesn’t mean that my ways of eating, talking, and interacting are better.
The more you read, the more you become cognizant of how much more there is to learn. This feeling can be frustrating, but it is also freeing. When you recognize that you don’t know everything, your faults and intellectual shortcomings become clear. This clarity helps you take the steps necessary to improve yourself. Reading, above all, helps you better understand yourself. You understand how you are connected to the world and what your role is to play in this life.
Curiosity, Confidence, Community,
Reading sparked my curiosity in ways I did not think were possible. When I started reading, my sole interest was sports. My dream career was to be an Athletic Director of a D-1 University, like Duke or Michigan. While I still enjoy sports, reading opened me up to a whole new world. The world of sociology, philosophy, and politics. Now, my dream career is to be a public interest lawyer. I have found where my social values and interests lie.
Understanding my values has given me the confidence to talk about them. Reading has given me a strong knowledge base in many subjects, and when I have conversations with my peers or professors, I can speak about facts, not just my opinions. Now, I often find myself citing different authors and books as I make my points. This not only strengthens my credibility, but it also enhances my confidence as I’m speaking. As a confident speaker, I can express my thoughts more clearly.
Finally, reading has provided me with community. By reading a novel based in India, I can feel connected to people across the world. By reading a non-fiction book about mass incarceration, I can join the community of people who are fighting for a more compassionate and just society.
After your reading Sherpa guides you, you can pay it forward and become a reading Sherpa yourself. Now, I’m not saying you should go around asking people if they need help finding a book to read. But you can be available when a friend or family member is looking for guidance. Recently, I had the opportunity to provide some light guidance as one of my closest friends started his reading journey. There are fewer things as rewarding as guiding a friend at the start of a journey that will undoubtedly enhance their life and improve your friendship.
For some reading suggestions, check out the Pete’s Reading Recommendations page on this website! Let me know what you are reading in the comments!