Burgert 1

Andrew Burgert

Professor Jan Rieman

ENGL 1103-001

November 18, 2010

Reasons and Methods of Reading

Self-Assessment: I am pleased with my paper overall. I am happy

with the topic I chose, and how well the structure worked out. I

followed the process through brainstorming a topic to producing an

outline and developing it through several drafts into the final paper.

If I were to go back now, I would have done more research to begin

with, as well as getting more done before the peer workshop.

Reading has been an important part of my life since I was a small child. I chose to

explore the many sides of why people read and how reading is evolving because of my deep

personal interest in this topic. I followed the thread between the reasons for reading and how

the reading process is changing with new technology.

Why do people read? When we first start school, we learn to read to become informed.

Many assignments are required of us by our school and teachers. Many of these texts are

things we may not have wanted to read on our own. However, as we learn from these texts,

we may learn to appreciate them. In England, research points to the fact that students’ reading

for pleasure has been limited as a result of needs of the school curriculum. “Under pressure to
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raise standards, there has been a strong emphasis on meeting objectives and managing the

curriculum, but reasons for reading in the first place appear to have been neglected.“ (Hodges

60)

As we go on in school, we do more reading for research. Whether for English, social

studies, or science, we often do outside reading to learn more about our subject. As we go on

to higher education, we do on-going research in our major field of study. After college, we

often have to continue our reading and research to keep up-to-date in our career. On a regular

basis, most adults read newspapers and magazines to remain well informed about the world

around them, so they can participate in society. They read this information on social, financial,

and medical topics that affect them personally. People share this knowledge by accessing free

information from sources such as the Internet, libraries, and doctors’ offices.

Aside from reading for knowledge, people often read for pleasure. While we are in

school or at work, our pleasurable reading is done during breaks and vacation. Otherwise, most

reading is for pleasure. This reading can be non-fiction, but is most often fiction. Popular

genres include science fiction, such as Star Trek and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.

It also includes fantasy such as the Harry Potter septilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy;

mysteries such as those featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and those by Isaac Asimov.

People that read for pleasure are often reading to escape from their everyday lives.

Many of the fiction genres previously mentioned can be used as an escape, or to stimulate the

imagination and be inspired. “Becoming involved in a good book can help readers forget their

own problems for a while or add some excitement to their otherwise mild lives. It's entertaining
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to get caught up in another world.” (Jones-Shoeman) At the end of our long, boring workdays,

we can go home and enter a world full of excitement and wonder!

A less common reason for reading is to hear others’ opinions, especially in an election

year. Every day, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet are ablaze with political fervor

towards one viewpoint or another. There are also many books being released that deal with

politics and politicians. Some of these opinions we agree with; others, we do not. When we

read these opinions, we come to understand them better.

We sometimes read to help us understand ourselves better. In the library, bookstore, or

on the Internet, we look for self-help books. Some of these books may help us to develop more

knowledge about ourselves. Said knowledge can help us to develop as a whole person. We can

find this understanding and knowledge in other books, as well. “[L]iterature contributes to the

individual’s moral and emotional education by facilitating a greater understanding of the self,

the world and others.” (West 5)

In all of our readings, in many different genres, be they fiction or non-fiction, we can

learn to understand others. We can connect with like-minded people via the Internet, and

other interactive textual channels. Through our readings, we learn about varied in-depth

topics, which gives us something to talk about, which makes us more interesting and well

rounded. “[R]eading offers pleasure and access to knowledge, while understanding about

language enables choice and appreciation of the choices others make.” (Hodges 62) In learning

about topics outside our usual comfort zone, we sometimes can understand and empathize

with others better.

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In reflecting on the many reasons we read, it is important to discuss the future of

reading and how the reading experience will change. People read using many different media.

There are the traditional media that most people consume today, as well as newer media

formats that people both consume and produce. For hundreds of years, people have mostly

read with the use of books. More recently, newspapers and magazines have become a popular

addition to books. All these traditional media use paper as the printing material. Modern

(digital) media, which have only recently come into vogue, represent a new evolution for

reading as a whole.

Some fear that, with the decline of libraries and the printed word, reading is nearing its

end. “I’m nervous about the rise of the Kindle and the Nook and the iBookstore. The book,

after all, is a time-tested technology. We know that it can endure, and that the information we

encode in [volumes] of ink on pulped trees can last for centuries...I also recognize the

astonishing potential of digital texts and e-readers.” (Lehrer) Today, there is more reading

material available than ever before, whether analog or digital.

There are other modern media available besides e-books. Audiobooks present a

different, hands-free reading experience. Those who are visually challenged have an easier

option with audiobooks. Magazines and newspapers can also be accessed electronically, either

on a website or with a special application. In addition, there are blogs and social networks, not

to mention the Internet as a whole.

In the future, with the addition of vast new resource capabilities, there will be even

more benefits from the reading experience. Mainly I read to escape the doldrums of everyday
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life, or for pleasure. Reading gives me the ability to experience different worlds, different

universes, where anything could be possible. I also read to learn, whether about the latest

technological advances, games, gadgets, or assignments for school. I often read books (physical

ones) and magazines. However, I constantly browse or check the Internet, via a computer or a

mobile device. Reading is here to stay and will continue in many different ways. “[W]hen we

acknowledge it, there is a great deal more reading going on beyond hard-copy formats--blogs,

websites, video games, online manuals, ebooks, and much more. Is reading at risk? Not by a

long shot.” (Abram)

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Works Cited

Hodges, Gabrielle Cliff. "Reasons for reading: why literature matters." Literacy 44.2 (2010): 60-

68. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Oct. 2010.

Jones-Shoeman, Cynthia. "Why People Read (and Write) Creative Writing: Reasons Why Fiction

and Poetry are Perennially Popular." Suite101. Suite101.com Media Inc., 21 Jan 2010.

Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.suite101.com/content/why-people-read-and-write-

creative-writing-a177111>.

West, A. “The production of readers” The English Magazine 17 (1986): 4–9. Print.

Lehrer, Jonah. "The Future of Reading." Wired.com. Condé Nast Digital, 08 Sep 2010. Web. 10

Nov 2010. <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/the-future-of-reading-2/>.

Quittner, Josh. "The Future of Reading." Fortune Magazine 11 Feb 2010: n. pag. Web. 10 Nov

2010.

Peters, Tom. “The Future of Reading: As the book changes form, the library must champion its

own power base & readers.” Library Journal (11/01/2009): n. pag. Web. 4 Nov 2010.

Abram, Stephen. "Why Do People Read?." MultiMedia & Internet@Schools 17.2 (2010): 23-24.

Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Oct. 2010.

Bhattacharya, Soumya. "People read for all sorts of reasons, don’t they?." Page Turner.

Hindustan Times, 23 Jan 2009. Web. 10 Nov 2010.