Recently, I began reading Theodore Roosevelt’s complete works, a multifaceted American who was an ornithologist and expert on bears, police commissioner, cowboy, soldier, governor, and president. His works are wonder-filled, writing excellent, but the key is just … reading, which he also loved.
Truth is, it really does not matter what you read, so long as you read. Years ago, the world passed more slowly. Many found joy retiring to a cozy chair or pulling the chain on a bedside light – to read. That joy is still there, beside a ready book.
In the old days, for me, that meant history, science fiction by Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury, fiction like Kenneth Roberts’ “Arundel,” “Rabble in Arms,” and “Northwest Passage,” “Battle at Cowpens,” and Michael Shaara’s “Killer Angels.”
Later, it was reflective volumes, history again, Robert Frost’s poetry, good biographies, collections of letters, books aimed at making sense of our world with timeless wisdom. For comedy, there is P.G Wodehouse, Erma Bombeck, and “Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K. Jerome
For calm with a touch of humor, James Harriet’s four volumes on being a rural veterinarian are winners, or leatherbound volumes with funny names, like “The Uncommon Law.”
On serious nights, I pore over biographies on our Founding Fathers, Lincoln, and Grant –three of whom I never tire. I add military intrigues, tales well told, and assessments of respected military leaders, MacArthur, Ike, Patton, Colin Powell, plus speeches by Ronald Reagan.
Main point is, if you are like me, no matter how hurly-burly, stressful, tense, terse, or tiring a day may be – it ends well, and good dreams follow, if you retire reading.
Maybe there is one other point to be made, in a time when Maine and other states “graduate” children who can barely read, no interest in books: Reading is vital for life, teaches how to imagine, and encourages words to draw pictures in your mind.
If there is one gift you can give that costs nothing, it is time – and no time is better spent than reading to young or old as opportunity arises. Reading is peace and joy, empowerment and education, amusement and mind-nudging, calming and catalyzing, a cause for wonder and wandering through a well-described world.
Wrote Joseph Addison, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body,” notably another topic for another day. More passionately, Frederick Douglas, who thought thoughts still important today and caught Theodore Roosevelt’s attention, said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
If that is not an invitation to pick up a book, find a chair, or pull that little chain on your bedside, and begin reading, it is hard to find a better one. And if you are reading this little missive, you probably already know what I mean. Happy reading!
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!
I read every night before going to sleep. My choices range from mystery to Christian fiction, from true-life accounts of people who survived the Holocaust and those who saved people from the Holocaust to Civil War history. So far this year, I have read over 25 books, and the year is only halfway complete. Books have taken me to places I will never physically visit and taught me things that I have used in my own life. My only issue with reading is that I will never have enough time to read all the books I want to complete.
The one thing I would emphasize to young people today is to read, read, read. It will open up so many new and exciting adventures, and it’s all there in your hands.
As a previous high school teacher, I found that any students of mine that liked to read any type of book were ALWAYS at least average, but mostly above average, grade-wise in ALL of their class subjects.. There’s definitely a connection between reading and good academic performance.in school… which, in turn, is really the basic preparation for their future employment… and in the age of AI, they will need all the help they can muster to get a good job.
This is why one whole wall of my tiny house is filled with bookcases – all filled with books.Some are new – but most are old. A favorite book is like a visit from a friend.
I read in bed every night before lights out and sometimes in the afternoon or evening. It’s my escape from life’s daily stress and nothing of interest on TV. I’m an avid murder/mystery reader. Who doesn’t love a good whodunit?
I have been an avid reader since, at age 7, I found an illustrated Alice in Wonderland and tried to puzzle out what all those words meant.
A common practice at the medical center I worked at for twenty years, was reading aloud at shift change. We even had a book with a short passage for each day. Some of my co-workers scoffed at the practice, others just settled in to listen for ten minutes. In fact, several studies have proven the benefits of reading aloud, no matter the age of the audience.
Amen! Reading opens up everything for those eager to learn, explore or just laugh! Reading makes one think, engage, and even change ones mind! I pray for my ability to read in my prayers to God as I age since reading keeps me young and alive! Everyone should try it!
RBC, I never grow tired of reading a good book. I am glad that my many grandchildren are also great readers.
Good title for this article Bobby – ” Why Reading Is More Important Than Ever ” – that sure enough is a fact considering the large number of students graduating high school with very low reading ability.And as you mentioned reading develops the imagination and encourages words to draw pictures in the mind. Reading can be a part of building good character too ,as with mathematics working on subjects that require patience and determination – both qualities of good character. I’ll just mention a few books from about thirty obtained during the 1970 ‘s In the humorous category P.G.Wodehouse – I reckon my favorite of his is “Something New” I had the Ballentine Books approximately 1978 edition of it. It had a cover with an illustration of a man and a woman next to each other and under that illustrations of a piece of jewelry of a Scarab an insect in the beetle family ) and a symbol of ancient Egypt that adds something to the story .The main characters Joan and Ashe get into all manner of humorous adventures in that story. A copy of a Dwight Eisenhower biography Dwight Eisenhower Soldier and Statesman. by R Alton Lee . And “The Hudson River and It’s Painters” – author’ last name Howat. That book is a good
art history and a good geography and history of that area during the 1800’s. Before then my parents purchased an Encyclopedia – Nelson’s Encyclopedia in 1957 about a year after I started school. Must have learned at least as much from that Encyclopedia as I did in school, and in some ways on certain topics more than what was being taught at school.This article is much appreciated.!
My father was an avid reader and started to try get me started around age 9. He was into histories (particularly western), biographies and studies of military battles especially of the period of the civil war. I stubbornly refused to go there until one day when I was about 11 and looking through the school library (he had required that I bring home a book to read) and found a copy of Andre Norton’s “The Stars Are Ours”. That was it and I was off to the races. Have been reading at an average pace of 25-30 books per year from that point on. Through most of my live as I moved at least half of the boxes I carted from place were full of books. Often, I ended up renting 2-bedroom apartments so I could have a place to sleep and the other, so I had a place for all the bookshelves filled with my books. Thank God for the Kindle, Still have a ton of books and no longer need the extra space. With the cost of renting today it is a blessing to not have to walk around stacks of books piled up all around.
Could not agree more. Both of my girls could read before entering kindergarten. Made a huge difference in all areas of academics. I have been an avid reader as long as memory serves. I’m 70 now. Ultimately, my favorite remains the King James Bible.
if you can’t read you’re doomed to be a democrat.all they can do is misspell protest signs and can’t read the constitution.another thing that happens is they start electing communists to office.
I have always been a voracious reader. Took a speed reading class in college and read faster than the teacher. LOL I read authors like Tom Clancy, Jack Carr, Vince Flynn, tons of various sci-fi authors, pretty much any genre including books like the Art of War, philosophy, gardening, dog training etc. I need to start biographies again. Stopped reading those shortly after college. Think I may be missing out! Happy Reading!
Alias, how to get the generations afterwards to value the art of reading in any form, when they are so tethered to technology, they don’t even consider the option of audiobooks because it involves a degree of attention span, they don’t have. My grandchildren were so amazed that I read 2 books and started a 3rd book doing my 2 week visit with them, yet they could stare for hours at screens. I had to use a reference to screen adoptions for them to get interested in reading and get library cards.
I have always been a big reader. In school they wanted us to read 10 books off their list every summer and I would read 100. And I never stopped. Now that I’m retired, I am able to read as much as I want. I even cancelled my cable and rarely turn on my TV. I always wonder what people do if they don’t read. Oh yes, both of my sons are in their 30’s and they’re big readers, too. I’m very proud of that.
Reading, RBC?
Does anyone still DO that?! Well, besides ourSELVES, of course…..
Reading is phunn de mental ????