The Rant-Reading the Next Dinosaur?

Reading is a vital and essential part of our lives, as it cultivates critical thinking skills, exposes us to a wider range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and helps maintain cognitive function. As attention spans shrink, headlines are prioritized over in-depth analysis, and visual communication reigns supreme. Many young people, raised in a digital-first environment, are more comfortable absorbing information through video games and streaming platforms than through lengthy texts. Access to genuine reading comprehension and the habit of reading for pleasure is not universally fostered, and if the joy of reading is not instilled early and consistently, it is difficult to cultivate a lifelong habit. To prevent its potential demise, we can actively cultivate a reading culture, promote libraries, book clubs, and community reading initiatives, and encourage reading for pleasure, not just for academic purposes. Parents should demonstrate their love of reading and encourage others to do the same. Reading is not just a skill, but a gateway to knowledge and understanding, and the digital revolution presents opportunities to revitalize and re-imagine the way we engage with the written word.