To Whom It May Concern,

Are you somebody who just can’t finish a book? When was the last time you read because you genuinely wanted to? Well, do you realize how beneficial reading is for the brain? The mental stimulation reading provides is drastically higher than an app on a cell phone. Yes, cell phones are the future and their advanced technology is frankly quite amazing. However, these miniature computers everyone carries around in their pockets and purses have been proven to cause as much harm as they do good. Parents are advised to not allow toddlers ages two and under because it can cause them to have learning, attention and other deficits.

Reading can open up completely unknown fantasy worlds and educates anybody willing to lift their covers. Whether it’s a textbook or a novel, it is encouraging your brain to think, comprehend and imagine. Don’t get me wrong, Netflix is great but it is also mindless. All you have to do is turn on a show and stare at the screen. Nothing is left up to the imagination whereas a fiction novel is 100 percent up to the minds each individual who reads it. Sure, you can argue that many books have been made into movies so you have a realistic person to compare the character to. However, just because a director cast a specific person for some move role, it doesn’t mean that’s what they have to look like. When you have a bad day you can escape into whatever story you’re exploring at the time. When you are stressed from work you can come home to anything from self-help to your favorite recipes. There is honestly something out there for everyone.

“I just don’t like reading,” is not an adequate excuse. When I hear people say this or something similar I inquire, “What is it about reading you dislike?” I can honestly say I have never gotten a legitimate answer. If you think it’s boring, try a different genre or author. There are an insane number of books that exist in the world. So don’t give up after one or two or three. Try going to a local book store and talk to someone working there. Or go online and search for books on topics you like. There is a reason there are public libraries where you can check out books for free. Who knows, you may find something you fall in love with and when you do, you won’t be able to put it down. So read a book.

Sincerely,

Kara McFarland