Reading in Today’s World

Reading- a pastime that, till now, has always been highly valued by the youth of America.  Not so much anymore.  The children of the baby boom era seem to be disinterested in reading, as if they’re too busy with other things.  What could possibly take over such a joyful and fulfilling hobby?  Television, iPhones, computers, video games, mp3 players, texting, etc.  The list goes on and on. 

I am in no way against technology, because I myself indulge in more than a few of those items that I listed above.  I play my video games, I spend time on the computer, I text, but still, I read about the same share as any of those other activities.  The technology of our day is indeed attractive, but in an overall view, however, my generation seems to have lost interest in the subtle pleasure and insight that can only be found in reading.  I have literally heard statements from my peers along the lines of, “I hate reading; I just can’t stand it,” or, “Read? Why would I do that? It’s a waste of time.”  In a prestigious school like Fenwick, wouldn’t you expect more?

Today, many of my fellow youths see reading as a chore.  This is a terrible problem.  Ever since man has written, reading has been important to everyone, whether it be for pleasure or for other matters.  Can you remember a time that a widespread hobby was to read poetry?  A time when poetry wasn’t just some dreaded assignment for a student’s English class?  Definitely not in my lifetime.  Think about it, poetry used to be read for fun!  I can’t name more than a handful of peers of mine who do that now.

Perhaps this is the ultimate form of ideas originating in the 50’s during the Beatnik Era.  Words themselves have no meaning.  We simply use words because we just do.  Man expresses either himself, or his ideas through valuable, glorious words.  It seems that this ideal from the Beats has been sickly twisted into a negative view on reading.  Instead of reading the words that truly don’t have meaning outside of the author’s expression, my generation has now chosen to neglect those words.