Read to understand yourself

Maintaining the habit of reading helps each person understand themselves better. **Photo: Quynh Trang**

When we were still in school, perhaps because entertainment was not yet abundant, reading books was one of the essential needs for many people.

After school, we often go to the library to read books and register to borrow them to take home. Books are considered precious friends, not only providing useful information and knowledge, helping us entertain and supplement many skills, but also helping us to cultivate perseverance.

It takes a lot of patience to read a book, especially a classic. Over time, I have come to see reading as a way to understand myself better.

Back then, I had a habit of taking notes of things that I thought were necessary and could be useful to me. When reading books and newspapers, I would diligently write down any interesting content in my notebook. From dictionaries, allusions, literary anecdotes, stories of writers, poetry, songs, to cooking recipes, life mottos…

There are things that I still appreciate when I read them again because they are very meaningful to me. I cherish and preserve books very carefully. Textbooks borrowed from the library are often wrapped in paper and securely bound. I treasure books that my father bought for me on business trips.

Reading books not only broadens my knowledge but also helps me discover my strengths and weaknesses, discover my hidden potential and dare to try things that I previously didn't think I could do.

One very encouraging news is that reading has improved significantly, especially among young people. On average, a Vietnamese person reads 6.1 books per year (previously it was 1.4 books per person).

In my personal observation, many students bring books to read during breaks, instead of surfing the phone or joking and chatting. Many young people have gradually realized the true value of reading and seek books to improve and develop themselves. Many students are very excited to participate in reading hours at the school library.

Many students shared that: Currently, books are very diverse in genres, besides science books, there are also general knowledge books, skill books, reference books, entertainment books, etc. Useful and rich content; beautiful presentation and printing are the reasons why young people are reading more and more books.

There are groups of students who boldly participate in competitions such as: online book introduction, reading culture ambassadors... with quite convincing quality. These are good signs signaling a hopeful return to reading culture.

Despite my busy work schedule, I still maintain the habit of reading books. When I have time, I read a lot, when I am busy, I read a few pages, as a way to maintain a good habit. Every time I face a book, I feel like I am talking to a soul mate, deeply and intimately.

Each book gives me experience, reflection and accumulation of knowledge and skills. Some books also bring lessons for me to make the right decisions in life.

For me, books are always precious friends, quietly cultivating truly lasting values. And like the years since I became attached, books always help me listen, first of all to understand myself.