Inspiring People To Read

Giving Birthday gifts was not a big problem ten years ago. Back then kids used to read. It was very convenient to gift a good book and be sure that it would be appreciated. Now it is a pain thinking about a birthday gift. You can’t give a book, because reading is “uncool”.

I was glad to see that some websites like the amazon and The Guardian are making a desperate effort to get people back to reading. amazon  had come out with this list  of 100 books to read in a life time. The Telegraph had come out with this list  of 100 novels that everyone should read and The Guardian had come out with this one about the 1000 novels every one must read. I remember coming across another interesting list of 30 books one should read before turning 30 (I can't find the article any more).

However I came across this one published by The Millions and found it very interesting. They give us a list of the 28 books we should read. The way they have given the list is quite interesting. It appeals to you more because they have touched a personal string. They say that you should read the book which you see someone reading in a train and trying to hide the smile. Or the book which you hear two booksellers arguing about. Or you should read the book whose main character’s name starts with the same letter as yours. And the one you find in the seat pocket of an air plane you are travelling in. In the list are many other interesting points about which book you can read.

It is sensible of the author not to throw names of books at the readers and tell them to read those books. Considering  that most people like to hold on to memories, it would appeal to many that the author of this list had asked us to read the book which was given by our parents after we graduated, or the book we did not read as a part of our high school text. And some might actually go back to the old cupboards and look up for the old dust covered books. Even if they don't end up reading it, memories of those old times would make them smile. Worth it I must say.

As I hope that such lists would appeal to the greater mass who don’t read, and inspire them to read some books, if not all 28, I feel sad that now we need a reason, a list to read books. Earlier it used to be a hobby and the only reason we as kids needed was: “reading makes us happy!”