10 Practical Reasons Why I Love Reading

by Adrian Pantonial 

My passion for reading books began when my father died in 1997. That was the time when I was plagued with so many questions about life. Because I am the eldest among five siblings, I felt responsible for them and was forced to find the answers to these questions – so I turned to books to quench my thirst for wisdom. (Eventually, in 2013, my mom passed on as well.)

I vividly remember the first ever book on sale I bought from a book store. It was titled “Life Preservers” by Harriet Learner Ph.D., which a few years down the road, I gave to my Aunt Liza while we’re having our Conversational English Tutorial lessons.

That book started my insatiable passion for reading self-help books. There was even a time when I tried to stay away from book stores because, even if I don’t have enough money, I was tempted not to leave those places without buying a book or two. And as my personal evolution swept through time and space, my preference for literary reading diversified as well.

Here are the top 10 reasons why I love reading:

1.) Personal and Professional Growth – Reading helps me grow as a person, expanding my views in life, affecting my every personal and professional decisions.

2.) Leadership Booster – I believe that great leaders are great readers. The more you read and apply what you read in your life, the better you lead.

3.) Boredom Buster – It sets me free from boredom. I am able to use my time wisely and productively.

4.) Communication Skills Enhancer – Reading widens my expertise as a wordsmith, which I use in writing in and outside the workplace, for my online blogging, and for writing encouraging notes to family and friends.

5.) Success Toolkit – One of my lifetime goals is to be able to write my own best-selling book someday. And right now, reading different kinds of materials about my target genre and market, help me better conceptualize my masterpiece-in-progress.

6.) Learning from the Best – Through reading, I get to mingle and pick the brains of people whom I may never meet in person like my favorite authors.

7.) Virtual Traveling – Reading allows me to travel to places I have never been to. It makes me vicariously experience situations that I may either only dream of (or loathe). But however which way, I’d still gain invaluable insights.