"Does reading books really change our life?"
By prashu
@prashu228 (37524)
India
October 12, 2012 4:34am CST
hello friends,
Well many of us likes reading books. Nothing wrong in reading books and making it as a habit. I read sometimes, but only when i feel very boring ,or just to keep myself busy. My doubt is, can books really change our life or a person? When ever i read , i try to learn the language and see the skill of the writer and how the story is written. But i heard people saying , "this book has really changed my life" is it possible? I mean it is a book written by someone like us,who learnt about life from every ups and downs , of course with good knowledge on the subject and language, but why should a book change our life? how is it possible? your views dear friends.
6 people like this
13 responses
@Inderjeetkaur (944)
• India
12 Oct 12
Reading a book can change our life. Books are written by common people like us who have learnt through good and bad times and with ups and downs of their life. Reading books can help us know and learn about a situation, about people, about life different from ours. Books may fill us with positivity, may teach us how to deal with certain situations. There is a book named Alchemist, which has inspired me a lot. I am very very fond of the book.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46925)
• India
17 Oct 12
Hi Inderjeet. I have heard about "Alchemist". Is this a fiction novel? Who is the author?
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
12 Oct 12
hi, i read the book Alchemist recently, it is good, thanks for sharing your opinion on books, its good if people change for a better one after reading ,but if this doesn't happen , at least they should not go for negative , that's most important.
1 person likes this
@barood4money (376)
• India
12 Oct 12
Actually reading books never changes life. If you learn something, then only your life changes. And now you can not only learn from books but also from audio books, e-books, videos etc.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46925)
• India
17 Oct 12
It is more about our own willingness to change, and willingness to embrace ideas different from what we are biased towards that makes a lot of difference.
@cacay1 (83437)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
18 Aug 21
@barood4money, " I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
? Ralph Waldo Emerson
@TerribleMan (579)
• India
15 Aug 21
Yes, reading a good book can change our life although not overtime. I had read many spiritual books which did change me. Just reading the book is not enough. One has to follow the guidelines given in the book and work on oneself.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
18 Aug 21
i agree..no use if we don't follow it..if we do ..then definitely change our life
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
13 Oct 12
Hi,
You are right. Books can change our life. Some stories are very inspiring. Sometimes these stories are connected with our life and we get some solution. I like to read biographies of great people. We can learn many things from the great people's life. I like to read some books which are related to general knowledge.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
13 Oct 12
yes biographies inspire us to learn many things from the great personalities ,how they got through the ups and downs and the GK books helps us to get up to date.
1 person likes this
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
17 Oct 12
Hi friend, good books have the ability to change our life, we will get an impact while reading a book whether it is good or bad. If we are impressed with the positive aspects of the book and interested in following it in our life, surely our life will change based on it and vice verse, so books have the ability to change our life. I am a great fan of APJ Abdul Kalaam and interested in following his quotes as well as reading his books, which made a great impact in my life
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Oct 12
hi friend,
i like to read but not for inspiration and all, just for the sake of reading and to know about the world and other people, i read APJ Abdul Kalaam sir's book "The wings" if i remember well that was the first version. I like to read biographies as well along with self help and psychology and fables .
1 person likes this
@Anqaya (3033)
• United States
18 Aug 21
First of all, I came here from terribleman's activity. I can't believe I'm reading a 9 year old post and many of you are in mylot for so long.
Yes, reading books definitely changed my life. I read plenty in a month except for exams. The first thing that changed......I don't answer back to my elders and friends and just listen quietly weather they are right or wrong.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
18 Aug 21
wow that's nice..that means you are reading good books...
1 person likes this
@Anqaya (3033)
• United States
19 Aug 21
@prashu228 Each one is not good morally. But they are exciting and encouraging.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46925)
• India
17 Oct 12
I think a book can inspire one for a short time, and think in depth as to what the writer wants to convey, the writers' beliefs, ideals etc. One can analyze and over-analyze.
However, it would not be very often that a book can alter the long term mindscape of a person's inner thoughts and the way he or she perceives and acts in life. I think books should more be read for enhancing knowledge, providing entertainment and relief from stress. By the way do you read Sidney Sheldon and Jeffrey Archer's fiction stories. They are very exciting.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Oct 12
hi friend, exactly, we live in the thoughts just for some time, not life long, yes of course, book should enhance our knowledge , we read but many take them too seriously , i feel we cannot live the life of the person who is the character in the book, but many don't realize this.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
19 Aug 15
I think that reading books can change our lives. You can learn from a book and you can also gain hope from a book. Of course for avid readers books are a way to relax and forget the tedious situations in life for a while. That relieves our stress so books can change lives.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
19 Aug 15
@Shellyann36 Yes friend reading will definitely change but does the change take place immediately or will it take time to bring changes . I think that a book will bring change if we read with involvement if not there will be no question about changing . what is your thought on this ?
@allknowing (136100)
• India
12 Oct 12
The only book that changed me was a book by Vincent Peale - "Power of Positive Thinking" I treat it as my gospel! I am not much of a reader excepting some light reading as I have so many activities that keep me merrily on my toes.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
12 Oct 12
good, to know that you were so much influenced by the book.
1 person likes this
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
12 Oct 12
prashu:
Reading helps people. Through reading man learns to change if he is convinced. Can you believe.? I know you will believe. I am reading small book on "Harishchandra". I have now studied upto the stage Harishchandra gave all his properties to Vishwamitra, sold his wife and son. balance i will read today.
i have books on Ganesha, Parvati, Shiva --my son bought these books in detroit and I brought them here for reading. they are written nicely. precise and best.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
12 Oct 12
oh, okay, then if a person reads a good book with full of positive energy then he/she may change their life, or at least try , similarly if a person read a book full of violence then he/she may turn violent, right?
oh you are reading mythological books, why all retired people only read all these kind of books, especially Indians, as my grandparents too ,do the same.
i know all the above mentioned stories, my grandmother used to tell me all those stories when i was in my school days , while sleeping at night, everyday one story, or if its too long then the other half the next day.
But now a days all these are not seen, i think. children are too busy with computer games.
1 person likes this
@smurfysmurf (651)
• Philippines
12 Oct 12
Hi Prashu,
I do think that a certain book would change our point view in life. I really love to read self-help books because it can help me with my everyday lives and would help me dealing with certain things on improving myself. I used to stay in the library and would read a lot of that kind. And yeah, it did changed me and it did change my point of view.
I don't overgeneralized things similar with my case. I do believe that it depends to the person if they are willing to change and did learn from that book.
Books are great motivators and turning points.
And now, I miss reading those kind of books because I am more on pocketbooks now which deals with fiction and stories.
Anyways, happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
12 Oct 12
hi, thanks for the response, i also like to read self help books, but i am not a voracious reader, i just read when i find it interesting .
Good to know the some books helped you .
can you tell me some books about fiction ,which you mentioned, so that i may try.
last week i finished the "Alchemist" it was pretty good.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
12 Oct 12
yes, they should take it as an inspiration , and have the zeal to learn .
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@cacay1 (83437)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
18 Aug 21
There are books that introduce moral lessons, and that would be one factor to change a person's attitude and mind set. "I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
? Ralph Waldo Emerson
