Life
Does reading a lot actually make your views broader?
or it’s merely another scam?
The other day while commuting to the office I had an epiphany: people who read a lot judge a lot.
I’m not a bookworm nor I enjoy reading as much as some people. I’m not ashamed of that. I read what I like and when I’m in a mood to read. I quit reading books that I find boring. Yes, there are boring books out there, don’t try to prove me wrong.
Yet, I’m trying to get myself into reading more instead of mindlessly scrolling on my phone or watching videos on Youtube. It’s a whole another story and you can read more about that journey here:
I have people in my surroundings who are avid readers, but I also have the ones who read occasionally or not at all. And here’s the thing, I don’t care about that aspect. It’s their intimate decision to read or not to read, and who am I to judge.
But you know who does judge people based on their book numbers? The ones who consider themselves bookworms. Yeah, it’s shocking, I know.
That got me thinking and I asked myself: if reading a lot is widening your views on the world does it give you the “permission” to judge people? Are you less person if you read less? Are your life views and opinions narrower because of that?
For instance, I have someone in the family who reads a lot, like few books at the same time. And that person is a literature professor, has a Ph.D., and is a published writer. Besides all that, he judges people who read less and looks down on them based on that. Honestly, I think of him as a less person because of that.
Also, I know some people who read a lot with views so narrow it’s scary.
It’s mindblowing because all my life I’ve been told that when you read a lot your views widen and you grow as a person. Now I realize, that it’s not always the truth.
Imagine saying: “I read hundreds of books, you didn’t and that makes you stupid and less of a person”. Aren’t you less of a person in this situation?
I still can’t grasp my mind around those thoughts and people.
I believe that those people have some type of inferiority complex and it makes them feel GREAT when they look down on other people. There is no other logical explanation. If you have one, please enlighten me, I want to learn more and see the other side.
Sorry for this long rant, I had to get it off my chest and share my thoughts with someone.