Being a book lover is more than just reading.

For many people, reading is sometimes just a hobby or a habit after a tiring day at work. But for Ms. Tran Ngoc Dan Thuy (41 years old, Thanh Cong Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City), it is a journey of self-discovery. Each page not only opens up knowledge but also helps her gradually overcome the ups and downs of life, find peace and direction amidst uncertain times.

“I’ve been exposed to many genres of books and have had a passionate love for them since childhood. I first realized how books helped me overcome difficulties when I was 22, amidst the overwhelming pressure of a broken relationship during my college years, the shock of my first career, and the vague crisis of adulthood. It was Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living,” that quietly saved my soul. I read it and realized that all sadness will eventually pass; the important thing is to learn to choose joy, no matter how small. That’s the motivation that helps me let go of negative thoughts and keep moving forward,” Thuy confided. For her, being a book lover isn’t just about immersing herself in words, but about letting books live in her mind and actions.

Reading books has helped Ms. Tran Ngoc Dan Thuy (Thanh Cong Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City) open up positive perspectives and change her life.

Since then, books like Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" and Marci Shimoff and Carol Kline's "When All Support Is Lost" have been her companions, gentle yet profound. They opened up new horizons, providing her with more experience, knowledge, and entrepreneurial spirit. In 2024, she boldly established Wedoo Happy Women Joint Stock Company, which not only organizes soft skills courses but also serves as a community for women to build happy lives. Habits such as slow living, positive thinking, building a disciplined life, and communication skills are developed by her and her instructors and colleagues as a "spiritual therapy," helping women find peace in their daily lives.

To spread her love of books, she arranged many bookshelves in her family's small vegetarian restaurant. Customers come to the restaurant to read and then leave behind old books, making it a meeting place for those who love knowledge.

Without needing grand lecture halls or modern libraries, a reading culture is still spreading strongly through quiet but persistent actions within the community.

For example, the "Connecting with Love" Club (Buon Ma Thuot City) has many activities that spread reading culture, connect the community, support dreams, and contribute to nurturing a better society. Ms. Le Nhu Huyen Tram, the head of the "Connecting with Love" Club, shared: "The club's purpose is to help disadvantaged people in the province, especially children. Beyond simply donating necessities and cash, I always believe that knowledge is the key to unlocking the path to changing their future, and reading is the closest way to access that treasure. Therefore, I, along with the club members, have implemented many meaningful programs to spread reading culture."

Since the beginning of 2020, the club has actively promoted the donation of various types of books, especially textbooks, to students in remote areas. Responding to the movement, a large number of students, teachers, and citizens nationwide have donated thousands of books. After sorting, the books are distributed to community libraries, schools in remote areas, children's playgrounds, etc. Recently, the club launched the "Reading Warrior" activity with the aim of fostering a love of books, developing critical thinking, communication skills, and presentation skills through recording reading journals, sharing feelings, and cultivating a daily reading habit through videos .

The book collection campaign organized by the Connecting Hearts Club attracted a large number of youth union members and young people to participate.

Ms. Pham Thi Mai Huong (26 years old), a member of the club, shared: “When I was little, I lived in a remote village where books and stories were almost a luxury. As I grew up, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to access knowledge. Since then, I have always hoped that children like me in the past would have easier access to reading. Joining the club has helped me achieve that. When I see the eager eyes of the children as they touch the pages, I know that even a small book can open up a whole world in their minds.”

For example, photographer Helena Vân, author of the photo book "Traditional Vietnamese Craft Villages," is passionate about preserving reading culture through photography. A portion of the proceeds from each photo book published is donated to support clubs and organizations in building free libraries. In Dak Lak , she has partnered with Bồ Công Anh Co., Ltd. to provide funding for the construction of libraries for children in remote areas and ethnic minority communities, as well as building rainbow playgrounds, with the hope of bringing knowledge to young children.

In addition, Ms. Van also organizes interactive reading sessions where children listen to stories and share their dreams, creating a joyful and intimate space that sparks a love of reading. The project has profound significance, helping children in disadvantaged areas broaden their horizons, nurture a love for books, and preserve cultural values through the pages of books. "Every book given away is a seed of knowledge. We may not see the results immediately, but surely somewhere, a child is growing up with the belief that knowledge can change lives," Ms. Van shared.

Through small actions, the reading culture gradually spreads. Without loud slogans, each book reaching those in need is a testament to the power of the community and the spirit of sharing knowledge. Therefore, reading is not just an individual act, but a movement, a humanistic current that is spreading and growing stronger every day.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202505/me-sach-khong-chi-la-doc-a8d1160/