why we need books

I enjoy reading and I love books due to many reasons--for pleasure, for learning, for enlightening and any other reasons.I grew up with lots of books which are regarded as my friends and mentors. And I feel that I learn more from books instead of being taught by schooling,

I love books wheras others may not be interested in them.One of my former classmates had discussed the need of reading with me. When I asked why he doesn't read books except textbooks, he answered in a self-important manner that he doesn't need to read other books because he knows every thing even without reading books and besides he can learn from his experience. His answer was a real shock to me. Even the wisest man in the world won't say that. How can a 20 something say like that?

As we learn more, we know more about our limitation and feel humble. On the contrary, if we know less, we thought we are the best and thus have no bother to gain more knowledge or improve ourselves.

So, does that means reading can help us find out our limitation? Yes, it is and more than that.

First, it is quite important to understand our disadvantages. As a result of that, we can then look for ways to improve ourselves. Through reading, which is a good way of learning, we talk with a wiser man who can give us fresh insight and inspirations.For example, if we are weak in arguing, we can improve our communicate and logic skill by reading Francis Bacon.But we should bear in mind that we should only learn from the best books that have primary knowledge. What is meant by that is those popularizations and textbooks do little help to our understanding and learning because they are merely repetition and digestion of other sources. We should read those generated from authors who discover wisdom themselves.Always learn from those who are better than you.

Enlightenment is the other fruit of reading. What we gain from great books is not only information which can be obtained from other activities such as schooling and discovery, but also enlightment. Thus, we read by connecting with our lives, by refleting our past, by relating all current knowledge rather than remembering the facts and stories told by books. Only by doing this can we apply what we learnt from books in our daily life.

Believe it or not, reading can be a lifestyle which would benefit you in such a long run.