It Helps to Read Books

It Helps to Read Books - By David Roger Walugembe

Reading culture refers to a way of life characterized by the habit of reading intensely and extensively. Poor reading culture is one of the major impediments to social and economic development in most low developed countries like Uganda. Recent articles have highlighted several causes of the poor reading culture in Uganda. In my undergraduate dissertation entitled “Contribution of NGOs in the promotion of the reading culture in Uganda: case study of EUPEK Project,” I concentrated on highlighting the positive energies invested by NGOs to combat the problem of poor reading culture in Uganda. I can argue that the biggest challenge to the promotion of the reading culture in Uganda is the lack of awareness and appreciation of the importance of reading.

Reading advocates are always put to task by pupils, students, teachers and parents about the connection between reading materials like newspapers, books magazines, novels etc to academic performance, financial gains etc! Can you imagine such mindsets? Reading is not only important for education and personal growth but it is a factor for economic and social development. When people read, they are able to visit other lands, planets and get to meet real and imaginary people of the past and present.

According to Dr. Abidi, “reading a number of books enhances ones language ability and consequently develops the power of expression of the reader”. He further asserts that reading books imparts new ideas, new styles and new flights of imagination to the readers. The more one reads, the more they get inspired to write their book thereby contributing to the literacy development of the nation.

The World Book Encyclopedia (Q-R, Vol.6) reiterates the importance of reading in four ways namely; functional literacy, workplace literacy, personal information and recreation. Functional literacy refers to the ability to perform useful activities like reading road signs, maps, labels on medicine bottles and directions for operating new appliances (like mobile phones). Functional literacy is important at all levels and remains useful to all people even after completing school. Workplace literacy refers to the person’s ability to read and its influence on job success. Promotions in most cases call for further training which equips the staff with particular reading and interpretation skills that are necessary for doing the job.

Besides reading in the classroom and on the job, most people read books, magazines and other materials for personal information and recreation. The best way to learn more about ones special interests such as sports, current events, science, fashion, ICT, etc would be through reading. Millions of people read novels, adventure stories, biographies and books for fun. Recreational reading helps us to understand others, takes the readers on journeys to unknown parts of the world and enables them to share experiences of people throughout history. Let us be keen on monitoring and evaluating the shift in trends of our reading culture. Reading a book per month or a chapter a day and capturing the impact makes a difference. What we focus on becomes our reality. Focusing efforts on improving our reading culture will increase the appreciation and awareness about the importance of reading.

As Uganda celebrates the 16th edition of the Annual National Book Week Festival, organized by National Book Trust of Uganda, let us join efforts to create and promote awareness about the importance of reading especially amongst children who are in their formative stages. Share inspirational stories of how reading has changed lives for the better, what inspires people to read, how to read and encourage more people to read at least an advert on the bill board! “A reading nation is a winning nation.”

The Writer is an Information Scientist with the Ministry of Public Service - davyluvother@yahoo.com -0712 311789

THE POWER OF READING

While it is fun to sit and watch TV or "catch a movie" as many folks wish to call it of late, there is nothing as powerful as reading. I had little love for this activity until lately but tell you what, reading can best be described as an air ticket to the undiscovered planets. I would rather be in a the company of a book than....... you can help me complete this (thank you)

I am currently reading a book entitled "The World is Flat The Globalized World in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas L. Friedman. Its first chapter indeed describes what most of us have been or are going through. This is the title of the chapter "While I was sleeping".

Indeed majority of us have been and are sleeping amidst the waves of globalization 3.0. Too much useful information and discoveries are going on around us and if we are not quick enough to wake up to these changes, we may find ourselves jobless if not homeless in this global planet.

The Information Communication Technology era presents us with so many opportunities contained in several hard and soft publications. Our biggest opportunity which we have ignored to seize is to read the content of these publications and apply it to solve the challenges facing us today.

It is never too late to start and compete or better put "it is not too late to wake up and discover our places, roles and passions in this global world."

Africa can be better if we shared our passions and collaborated with our colleagues in world over. Different generations, children, youths, middle age and the senior citizens can come together courtesy of the factors that have made the world flat. Leaders no matter the category can best enforce policy or inspire our followers through reading and discovering the means. Men and Women can best discover how to co-exist instead of competing in the name of emancipation through reading more and understanding.
The spirit of Ubuntu (i am because you are and you are because we are) can best be enforced if people read and had a better appreciation of how it works.

You and me can only get the best out of ourselves if we invested at least 30 minutes of our time every day to read and discover new knowledge and power. The power to choose lies in our hands and remember suffering is one of the consequences of choice. So choose to read and you discover how flat the world is and the many opportunities that are before you and me in this globalized world.