Why don't we read?
by Patrick Awodu
responsiblenaija..com

[i]The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.’ [/i]
Mark Twain

Why don’t we have a reading culture? Granted the book publishing industry in Nigeria can hardly be called vibrant and the cost of most international best sellers can be prohibitive to ordinary Nigerians, but there are still a whole lot of books and resources out there that are available. Moreover most Nigerians would rather spend their money on luxury items or entertainment in its various forms than spend that money on a good book.

This lack of a reading culture, I think, is one of the reasons there is a dearth of innovation and inventions in our society. Books open up the mind to previously unthought-of possibilities; they fire the imagination and allow us to share in the experience and knowledge of great men and women long gone. Reading the holy books of the two great religions allow us to partake of divine wisdom. Both the bible and the holy Koran in fact admonish us to read. Jesus Christ in the bible admonishes Christians to not live by bread alone but by the word (reading). In 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV the bible says: Study to shew thyself approved unto God. While the first word that was revealed to the prophet Mohammed in the Quran was “Ishkra” which translates as a command to read. So our religions encourage us to read.

The Chinese sage Confucius said “no matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance. This is indeed one of the basic truths of life. Books can provide all the education you could ever need in fact some of the most famous minds and intellectuals never had the benefit of a formal education. Einstein never went to a school but in a book binding shop developed some of the most insightful theories of his time.

Our standard of education wouldn’t be so poor if students would be encouraged to read more. Not just their text books but every and any genre they might have an interest in. There is inexhaustible evidence from studies that suggest the positive relationship between reading for pleasure and academic achievement. Research shows that children growing up in homes with books receive, on average, an additional three years education when compared with children from bookless homes – regardless of their parent’s education or financial status. One study by the University of London’s Institute of Education found that children between the ages of 10 – 16 who read for enjoyment showed significantly more progress in vocabulary, spelling and maths than children who hardly read.

Most science fiction lovers would see in the various technological advances today echoes in the works of science fiction greats. The impossible dreams and imagines of Isaac Asimov, H.G Wells, Jules Verne and their ilk underpin the technological realities of today. We see in the cell phones, lasers, touch screens, virtual reality consoles and the internet the products of the dreams that were birthed when their progenitors read the works of these authors.

Descartes, Edmund Hume, Plato, Confucius and a host of other philosophers and thinkers shaped and continue to shape the minds of leaders, politicians and revolutionaries. The declaration of independence and the fundamental rights of humans, upon which the United States was founded, was to a large part based on the works of John Locke which greatly influenced the young Thomas Jefferson, author of the American declaration of independence.

The annoying lack of political ideology among our political elites can most probably be ascribed to their not having nursed on the words of great men and leaders of the past. The same is the reason behind the shortage of social and political awareness and activism among the youths and elites. The world over elites are by definition a class of citizenry better read and better educated but for us in Nigeria our elites are the moneyed class.

If we are to achieve a revolution in our educational sector we have to first ignite a love for reading in our children and youths and in the general population. For where there is a love of reading there also you will find a thirst for knowledge. If we can engender in students a sincere desire to acquire knowledge as opposed to an education certificate then we would have solved fifty percent of the problem plaguing our educational sector.

In this day and age where information is just a click away no one should ever complain of a lack of reading materials. There tons of free eBooks online. The change has to start with you, read a book today, and buy one as a gift for someone. There is a book for everyone from self help and motivational books to fiction and biographies all have lessons to teach even if it is what not to do.

If you want to be part of the Readers are Winners program or be part of a book club, email: admin@takeresponsibility-ng.com or call 07055435588

Reading: A time travel machine
by Patrick Awodu
responsiblenaija..com

Do you know you can travel through time? The technology to time travel is and has always been available and millions of humans have taken the advantage to travel back to relive epoch events in human history. The secret and means to time travel have been known for a long time but only to those already in the know. You are either introduced or you discover the secrets to time travel. The only requirement is a healthy dose of curiosity and interest.

Everybody and anybody can partake of this experience; it is safe, pain free and relatively inexpensive. Isn't it fascinating and exciting, the thought of going back in history to the defining moments of human experience and maybe have a discussion with great men and women that shaped the times. Imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus Christ while he taught or talking with Benjamin Franklin on the eve of American independence or walking with Moses as he led the Israelites out of Egypt or hearing Martin Luther King give the 'I have a Dream' speech.

It is possible!! Though humanity is still not able to transport a human body back or forward in time, we have always had the ability to move our minds through time. Through books. Walk into a library or book store and you walk into a time ship, pick a book and you pick the time and place you would like to visit, turn the first page and you would have ignited the time drive engine and be immediately transported to the time and place of your choosing.

In the dry pages of books resides mankind's greatest invention. Pick a book today and read and dive into the wonderful world of books.

3 reasons why Nigerians do not read
by Patrick Awodu
responsiblenaija..com

It is not news that there is a near total absence of a reading culture in Nigerian society. Very few adults read for pleasure and the passion for reading is sorely lacking in the upcoming generations. It was not always this bad, most Nigerians who came of age before the 1980’s can remember a time when reading for pleasure was not just for ‘efficos’. This was a time before cable television and 24 hours movie and sports stations, before the advent of mobile devices that offer multimedia content on demand, and before the value of education was degraded. Here are three reasons why I think fewer Nigerians are reading;

Scarcity of Books
Bestsellers and latest releases can be hard to come by and when they are available can out of range for the ordinary Nigerian. The few books store still in operation and online retailers that carry books do not have a wide selection of books. The focus is mostly on religious, motivational and management books with a bias for certain titles. Romance novels are also popular. Every other genre is so grossly underrepresented in the stable of Nigerian book stores as to make reading variety nonexistent. Walk into a Nigerian bookstore in search of your favourite authors or best selling titles in science fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, thrillers, comic books and you are certain to be disappointed. This lack of reading resources makes it hard encouraging interest in reading.

We do not think reading for pleasure is important.
Most parents and educators do not see any benefit in encouraging their kids to read novels. Most Nigerian parents actually think it is a waste of time. From an early age Nigerian parents make reading a chore when they tell their children ‘read your books’ and always they mean school books and text books. Trying to stimulate interest various subjects and the wider world by exposing kids to a wide variety of reading materials from an early age is hardly a priority. This is a shame because there is strong evidence to show that children who read for pleasure perform better academically than children who do not read.

Multimedia Distractions
The world today provides so much distractions to adults and children alike. It can be so much more difficult to find the time for a good book. Kids especially when faced with 24 hours television, cinemas and video games can be turned off by the dry looking pages of books. This is why from an early age we need to introduce our children to the joys of the written word. It increases the possibility that when they get older they are still likely to pick up a book in lieu of a movie.

5 reasons Why you should start reading
by Patrick Awodu
[url]responsiblenaija..com[/url]
www.takeresponsibility-ng.com


Reading makes you smarter
From You pick up all sorts of ideas but the esoteric and the popular. You can never really tell what you might learn from a book, from the history of ancient Egypt to Chaos theory you are not just entertained but informed.

Reading makes you a better conversationalist
This is because whatever the topic of the conservation, you are almost guaranteed to know something about it.

You enjoy movies, Tv shows and songs more
You know those things your favorite TV character says that go right over your head? Reading more will ensure that you miss the joke less often. Most of those witty lines contain a plethora of literary allusions, so becoming more familiar with classic or popular literature can help you enjoy TV on a deeper level.
And for those TV shows and Movies that have been adapted from books – Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, Divergent – you get to be the one to explain the plot lines and deeper motives ofthe characters to your friends.

Greater Vocabulary and Eloquence
The more you read the more words you come across, hence the more words you have at your disposal. It means it is easier for you to express yourself and you can do so brilliantly.

Reading makes you happier
According to a 2009 study by the University of Sussex, reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. When you’re not as stressed out, you feel a lot lighter, so there’s more room for happiness.

the more you read the more you can write
What are you writing? Articles, thesis, projects, term paper etc? No matter your field visit www.uniprojectsearch.com
his philosophy and religion department project is exceptional.
Passion, the Foundation of Morality in David Hume’s Moral Philosophy
http://uniprojectsearch.com/passion-founda…ral-philosophy/