Why do you read?

A lot of writers talk about why they write. In fact, there are some pretty famous writers who've got some good quotes on the topic:

W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965): We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.

Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992): I write for the same reason I breathe – because if I didn't, I would die.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940): Writers aren't exactly people... they're a whole lot of people trying to be one person.

Why a writer writes is a common and varied topic that could be bandied about at length just about anywhere. In fact, next time you're in a writers group and you're not sure what to talk about, just ask everyone why they write. You won't get anyone to shut up!

But another question that needs be asked that probably supersedes why a writer writes is why do they read? Many writers (and others who are avid readers) remember the first book that made them fall in love with reading. They remember the books that changed their lives or the ones that they have reread every year for the last 5, 10, 20 years. And it's this love affair with reading and books that first kick started a lot of writers writing.

I was thinking about this the other day when a friend of mine and I were talking about the books we read. We both read a lot. He prefers nonfiction such as biographies, history, inspirational and self-help books. I prefer fiction, heavy on the genre, and a little lyrical poetry and humor thrown in. We both read a lot, but for different reasons. I read to escape (obviously) and he reads to connect. Yet, as different as our reading material is, we can connect with each other and other readers on what we have learned from our reading. As readers, we will always have that desire to go back to searching for yet another great book that could change our life for the better, or give us insight into a part of ourselves that we have yet to understand, or to inspire us to try hard to be better at our music, art, writing, business, teaching or ... what-have-you.

You don't find that kind of satisfying read on the internet, at least not in 140 word bits about life's insipid details. You only find that type of satisfaction in a piece of art; words strung together in a thoughtful, meaningful manner.

It could be in a paperback at the beach, a hardback from the library, an ebook on your ereader, or a downloaded audio book from iTunes or Audible.com. It's still a book. You, despite your busy days and other demands on your life want nothing better than to read that book. Whatever the case, and whether it's to connect more with the world, learn more about it, or escape from it, you just know that you have to read that book.

But, next time you're in meta-type, philosophizing mood, ask yourself, why do you read?