Reading is Fundamental

IN THE NEWS: According to World Magazine, "A Spanish farm just outside of Madrid thinks it's found the secret to the perfect pint of milk. Owners of the farm have instructed their farm hands to treat the livestock like residents at a 5 star hotel. The cows get water beds, sprinklers, and electronic brushes--but the biggest effect on milk quality seems to be from the dulcet tones of Mozart blasted through loudspeakers at milking time."

Eileen Cook, author and one of the many bloggers I read daily, brought up an interesting blog topic yesterday on the statistics of reading. She wrote:

58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.


42% of college graduates never read another book.


80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.


70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

Eeww.

As yucky as those statistics sounds, I have to admit--for a while--- I was part of the 42% of people that never read another book after I graduated from college. Yes. Sorry. For a long time after, I had a hard time equating reading with "pleasure".

Then I became with child (pregnant) and forced to sit on my tushy and find something to amuse myself. That's when I started to pick up books again and realized what I had been missing for so long.

Thank God! (For my daughter and for my reintroduction to reading) I love both.

So, let's change those reading statistics. Reintroduce a person to reading.
Buy a book for someone this summer--especially someone who doesn't read. Even if it's yourself!

At my daughter's kindergarten registration, they gave out a 3 pages list of great reads for children of her age. Until then, I hadn't really given a thought about buying a books as a birthday present for my daughter's friends. But what a great idea! Better to get them interested in books early. I mean, what was I thinking, buying that baby Princess Belle doll?

I know they'd get a kick out of the Mo Willems pigeon books instead.

The best book I received a few years ago was The Sara Moulton Cookbook. Not exactly a book to wipe out illiteracy, but I do use it ALL the time. My father-in-law always loves to get the new hardcover Tom Clancy book. (When Mr. Clancy doesn't have a book out, you should see us scramble for gift ideas. It's sad.) And a few years ago, I think I bought In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton for anyone with two working eyes. Yes, it's that good--and based on a true story.

Have you received a great book as a gift?