When most people think about reading, they travel back to when their mom used to read to them at night. A safe place where the only thing they hear is the story. Nowadays, all I hear is “reading is boring”. Nothing changed except the mindset of the reader. Of course people are going to find reading tedious, if the whole time they are reading, all they can think about is how much it sucks. In my opinion, reading isn’t boring unless people make it to be themselves. It also helps improve many things inside people. The book itself, the person, facts in general, and how to become a reader, all show that reading shouldn’t be boring. 

The biggest problem is finding the right book. If people think reading is just a bunch of words on a page, that’s unethical. Behind those words are their meanings. Whether it’s to inform and instruct people, or to tell a story. The definition of boring is “feeling tired and unhappy because something is not interesting or because you have nothing to do.” Basically saying that if people do not find it interesting, they will be bored. So that’s the first problem. Not being interested in a couple books just means they have not found the right type.  Every book is different, so all individuals need to do is to find what’s right for them. Saying a book is boring is totally different than saying reading is boring. People may find a type of reading “boring”, but if they think every book is, something is not right. There are many different types of books, there’s fiction and nonfiction plus tons of categories in those for people to enjoy. It may not be the book that’s the issue, it could be the person reading it.

The person has to have the right mindset to read. According to Akansha Prahdan 2021 from “The Book Bluff”, most people dislike reading due to their poor reading skills. If they can not read at a pace that is good, they will tend to get bored of the book fast. Other reasons it states, could be due to a poor attention span or bad reading experience as a child. Considering this fact, the book may not even be the problem. The first step to wanting to learn how to be a good reader and not find it boring, is improving the mindset. Some people don’t even try to read, and that’s the first step, trying. When seeking out a new book, don’t automatically shut it down. People may never find what works for them without searching for it. Others may not want to become a reader because they think it’s dumb, but there are plenty of facts that prove otherwise. 

There have been many studies to prove facts behind reading. People who read fiction have been established to be more empathetic. According to Megan Schmidt from the “Discover magazine” 2022, “A growing body of research has found that people who read fiction tend to better understand and share in the feelings of others- even those who are different from themselves.” It’s not just empathy it improves, it also helps with concentration and memory. Described by Lia Tabackman from “The Insider” 2020, distinguishes that we create a mental map while reading. What this means is that it helps us process and recall words. In terms, it truly does make people “smarter”. Being able to read more brings people additional qualities that others want. Many say that reading helps them reduce stress and relax. All needed is around 30 minutes of reading time and individuals can be at ease. With all the facts behind reading and all its benefits, I don’t know why someone wouldn’t want to do so. If people want to but don’t know how, there’s always a place to start. 

To become a reader, first people must find a book genre that fits them. If they are a realistic person who doesn’t like to hear tales about things that wouldn’t happen, try non-fiction books. Non-fiction books are facts or a story that is not made up. A highly read non-fiction book according to Lizz Schumer from “goodhousekeeping” 2021, is “Citizen: An American Lyric”. If others are the opposite and think that for something to be exciting and fun it needs to be made up, go for fantasy. A lot of children start off their journey of reading with popular fantasy books. An example is “The Chronicles Of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. This series has been around since the 1950s, leading it to be loved by many. If people are somewhat in the middle, a person who wants realistic but twists in it as well, try realistic fiction. A widely known realistic fiction book is “The Fault In Our Stars”. Studies have shown that young adults are more likely to read fiction than people who are past 75 years of age. Found by Quentin Fottrell from the “Market Watch” 2020, also shows that women tend to read more fiction than men. No matter what their age or gender is, reading can be for anyone.

In conclusion, reading is only boring if people themselves make it to be. From the books, the readers, facts, and what to do to become a reader, they all show that it doesn’t have to be boring. First try and find the book type fit for you, have the correct mindset along the way. Listen to the facts and let them guide people into becoming a better reader. Hopefully when people think of reading now, they will think of all the great things they’ve read. They’ll understand the quote, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.”, said by Garrison Keillor. They won’t feel the need to say “reading is boring”.