I like to read

James Stevenson Jr.

In the past year, I have read three books — “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” “Dreams and Shadows” and “The Forever War.” I have also read two graphic novels: “Superman: American Alien” and “Saga.” Since childhood I have been a disciple of reading. I love the touch of a good book, feeling the pages as I turn them, and the sensation of being immersed in a world that is uncharted territory of imagination.

The very reason I pick up a book is to venture into places unknown and discover things about myself and the world that I had never fathomed. Books are gateways to learning about new cultures and important people who have been long forgotten and so often written out of the history lessons we learn in school.

Fortunately, I’m not alone. A September Pew Research Center survey showed that the millennial generation loves to read. The study revealed that 80 percent of young adults aged 18-29 have read at least one book in the past year. This is reportedly more than the previous two generations.

I sometimes find books to be more effective than teachers. They offer a self-taught experience often unavailable in the classroom. With books you can learn how to become a part of a larger community, while growing your imagination and critical thinking skills.

The reasons I love to read are endless, but the most important one is that reading, especially reading books, is an artform that is tragically undervalued. Often, we look to digital and visual media for consumption of new knowledge, but reading is something that has existed for centuries and that will always be necessary and relevant.