(Photo courtesy of Google)I read in the newspaper that Michelle Yeoh (representing Chinese) and Datuk Sheik Muzaffar Shukor (Malaysian astronaut and representing Malays) have been elected as ambassors to encourage reading by the government.
Why only now the emphasis to read?
The habit we have for reading is still very low. I guess we may blame it on the education system. Our focus was just to study to pass the lessons of school. What about the lessons of life? I feel the lessons of life are more valuable than the lessons of school. We look at reading as boring and only should be applied during school hours. This applies to certain sector of people and not all. I knowpeople who were good in school and also were great readers of works from famous authors.
I was driving up Teluk Bahang and noticed this advertisement from Hydro-majestic Hotel. It said, "No books. It's a holiday". How would this appeal especially to foreigners? Besides having a negative opinion of how shallow Malaysians are, it also leaves a bad reputation for the hotel. Seriously! I am not a fan of hotels but when I read it, it gave me a negative feeling of the hotel. There are so many ways to display effective marketing. I think this attempt could be deadly for sales especially when times are hard for the tourism industry.
Sorry to sound lame but reading is really very benneficial for anyone. There is so much to read; fictional stories, politics, economy etc. It is not only good to know what is happening around us but it indeed makes us smarter people. When I say smarter I mean with more understanding to what is happenning in our surroundings and how we can adapt or make change to it.
Reading can be relaxing as it widens our horizons and enhances our curiosity to find out more.
Enough with the bennefits of reading as I know you know it is good.
Reading is much useful to youngsters especially rather than wasting their time. I see so many people engrosed with their cars, photography, clubbing etc. Are they in dire need of a hobby or their life is so boring?
It is good to take up such hobbies but one must have limits. What is the use of knowing so much about how to take close ups of flowers and not knowing anything that is happening in the world? That is just so shallow. How can one expect to mature?
A lot of money is being spent for such hobbies. Buying this and that equipment. Trying to be the James Cameron of the kampung. So useless.
Money should be well channelled and put to good use for ones own personal and mental development. Get a good book or sign-up for a valued broadband package to do some good reading and learning more.
I have shared this before. One day I had 3000 ringgit. I was in the dilemma of getting a classic car or a laptop. After much analysis, it would be more value add to get a laptop as I can learn so much and be a better person on and off the job.
When I was on vacation in Phuket 2 weeks back, I noticed so many Mat Salleh or Caucasians on holiday. They were in a very chilled mood and most of them had a book each. Even on holiday, they choose to find pleasure in reading. That is how much different the culture of the West is compared to the East.
One does not have to spend the whole day reading. That would be pointless. Just taking half an hour to 2 hours out of a busy schedule would be good enough. Try learning something new everyday.
I disliked reading. Until I was curious to find out about things that interest me like history, cars and psychology. The interest started online. Then came the craving to get good books. Hey, it may sound expensive to buy books but remmember each year we get a rebate from the government when we file our income tax. Pls remmember to keep those receipts! :)
