Why Reading Is Important

Yes! I agree! Since you focus on classics, I'd also like to add that reading classic literature has improved my patience and helped me slow down and think for myself. Over the past couple of years I've started reading many of those books I once deemed "too difficult" and I've discovered it wasn't that their content or language was too difficult, they just required more time and space for thinking. None of the words are wasted. The slower I read, the more I find pieces of myself in every story.

One of the best book-related channels on YouTube. I absolutely love classics, thank you for your insights!

I would give this video 1000 thumbs up if I could! It is a message worth sharing and worth coming back to and listen once again, even for those of us who already love reading.

My husband discovered your channel and told me about you, and I have listened to a number of your vlogs as a result. With a background in foreign language studies, I have often felt that I know less about English literature than I should, and I have tried to make up for that over recent years. I heartily concur with everything you have said. The book that sprang to mind in relation to your last point about being misled and manipulated was "Animal Farm". What a work of genius! Short, easy to read, and yet so very profound! 😲 It should be compulsory reading for every human being in every society, but particularly now in the western world, where manipulation seems to be the order of the day. Read Animal Farm, everyone!

There are so many things I will never do in my life, but if you read, you can vicariously live all sorts of experiences, as you so well describe in point three.

As a recent bibliophile I must say, i love this channel and your enthusiasm, quite contagious my friend!

It’s great to hear a nuanced explanation of the practical benefits of increases in empathy. I used to take it to just mean “you’ll be nicer to people”, which is great and all, but not really making anyone run to the library.

We are big fans of your channel and of anyone promoting 📚 reading. We also love that you say it promotes true empathy- without it we are on the path to loneliness and intolerance. So very very true :)

Excellent video 👌🏿

I am (I am guessing) much older than most of you. I read the classics, at least an hour or two each day, to stave off cognitive decline. Studies have repeatedly shown that it does just that.

Love this video, Tristan. These days people don’t read as much as in the old days because their digital devices especially the handphone offer many distractions. Who reads on the bus or on the train these days, most commuters are glued to their phones. You make excellent points on the importance of reading fiction. For me, it’s akin to breathing. Why read? Well, why breathe?

Hello Tristan. I’ve just come across your channel and loved this post. I’ve listened to many talks on how to read classic literature but your summary of the benefits would have convinced me to pick up a classic book if I hadn’t already made it my goal to read more classic literature this year. I am hoping to improve all the skills you refer to as well as stave off cognitive decline (yes, I’m the age that starts to become a worry). I’m also thoroughly enjoying the challenge and finding great pleasure in learning to appreciate the writing of master wordsmiths. I am looking forward to watching to more of your videos. Thank you.

In terms of building empathy, I highly recommend reading the short stories of Anton Chekhov.

New favorite YouTube channel. Shared this video on my blog. Your videos, especially this one I just watched, are such a welcomed breath of fresh air.

While I’ve always read quite a bit, reading fiction is relatively new for me. In the last 3 years I’ve made a deliberate effort to read fiction. 2020, while challenging in many ways, became a year of discovery. My fiction section probably tripled. I’ve noticed quite a change in the way I think and reason, and I can’t imagine not reading fiction now. I’m pleased with what I have read, and excited for the great reads and authors I haven’t read yet. Great video! Cheers! 📚😉👍

Picasso said, "Art is a lie that makes us realize truth."

15:43 and these 5 minutes are great!!😊😊. I’m going to share this excerpt with my writers club. Thank yo

Hi Tristan, I just wanted to let you know, you're capable of bringing more people into reading with your way of convincing. I really do hope your channel gets blow up, so this earth would be a better place because of more people started reading.

Good points about the importance of empathy. I like the comment about seeing life through a thousand peoples eyes. I can see where someone who reads fiction can understand from a variety of perspectives. They can see the many gradations of detail in life and can see nuance much more clearly.