ChatGPT this, ChatGPT that; in this era of generative AI stealing artists and writers work, The Bombay Circle Press is here to tell you why you should pick up a physical book and start reading it. Do not worry, there are multiple ways to sustain a reading habit without emptying your pockets.
But firstly, let’s deep dive into the importance of reading. There is enough scientific evidence that suggests that the complex neurological network in your brain gets activated for several days when you read even once. In simpler terms, almost your entire brain gets a jumpstart and starts running, strengthening these networks. It is also proven that reading reduces your stress by 68%. It lowers your heart rate, regulates your blood pressure and relaxes your muscles. There are endless benefits of reading which are impossible to list in such a few words.
So, when you ask ChatGPT a question and it gives you the final product, you miss out the opportunity to read things for yourself and question what you are reading. ChatGPT is the fast food for your brain, while going to a library and picking up a book is like home-cooked food.
Apart from the fact that people look cool while reading in public, reading becomes a political choice in today’s world. In a world of war, dictatorship, and surveillance, reading is resilience. With countries banning books, reducing funding for education and dissolving human rights, books have become the source of hope and a tool for critical thinking. It expands your horizons and opens up doors to the world you didn’t know existed.
It helps you understand the lives of people who might not be in your vicinity. As much as we wished to, living under the rock is a luxury we can’t afford in this dystopian world. We live in a world where companies make profit off of our short-span attention (the more time you spend on reels/short videos/short ads, the more they earn), the simple act of reading is a slap in their face; to consciously make a choice of not engaging with content and picking up a book.
There are multiple ways one can read books without spending a lot of money. If you are a student, you can sign up to become a member of the library. Educational institutions may not have a lot of books but you can always request books to be made available. You can also use your educational id to get student discounts on multiple book-selling websites. Another way is to buy second-hand books from local bookstores and get your existing set of books exchanged.
Sharing is truly caring because you can annotate and share books with your friends and form secret little book clubs to discuss too! Organising book exchange in your community can also be a fun way to read more books.
If this doesn’t convince you to pick up a book, then maybe we can bring your attention to a set of interesting books which will make you sit on the edge of your seat with anticipation.