Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish and was created by the Perpetual Page Turner.
This week is a freebie, so I thought I would go with:
Top Ten Reasons I Read!
1. To learn things — just because I am finished with school doesn’t mean I need to stop discovering and gaining knowledge and books totally do that.
2. If I am ever on Cash Cab or Jeopardy, I will likely do very well because of the obscure bits of trivia I have picked up from books.
3.ΓΒ Empathy – I lead a very cushy life, I am not rich or anything BUT my life and trouble is nothing compared to someone with a meth addiction or someone living in a war zone. Reading about these people makes me more compassionate because I have more knowledge about their situation.
4. I am a huge fan of swooning. Friends, there’s nothing like a romance to put me in a happy mood. Seriously? Who doesn’t like debating why they are team Adrian or Team Dmitri? Well, some people I guess, but me, I LOVE THAT.
5. I like big words. Dude, apparently reading makes your vocabulary awesome and because of books, I aced the vocabulary section of the SATs. Plus I totally understand what people are saying when they use giant words.
6. Escapism. Some days are really crappy and everything goes wrong, and to be honest there’s nothing quite like the comfort of Prince Edward Island or Hogwarts and a nice glass of wine.
7. Patience in long lines and waiting for appointments – I could screw around on my phone texting while I am waiting for things, but I find that whipping out my kindle keeps me in a kinder mood as I am stuck in a line.
8. To travel – sigh, I never go anywhere cool in real life but when I am reading a book I go to Chile, to Australia, to an American Boarding School in Paris, to Narnia, the possibilities are endless with a library card.
9. To increase my sex appeal. Seriously, nothing is more attractive than a smart, good looking person who reads books. And I can tell you that it works π
10. Reading forges bonds and creates friendships. Frankly, I would have nothing interesting to talk about if I didn’t read, like ew would I talk about my nails or hair? F that. Instead, I connect with people over how much I want to be like Atticus Finch when I grow up or over theories for the Bloodlines series or debating which Weasley twin is the best (Fred FTW!).
So, lovely readers, why do you read? I’d love to see your thoughts in the comments!
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I completely agree with this list! My favorites are #6 (hence the name of my blog) and #1 (the reason I began reading a long time ago). Great list!
Awesome post April! I’m with you on pretty much every single point π
I love escaping into a book and finding myself in a whole new world. One day I can be running a yoga studio, the next battling evil faeries and then off onto a spaceship before bed.
I’ve also learnt a bunch of really random things from books, including random words in foreign languages that I’d never have learnt otherwise.
Plus I’m really impatient and the only way I can make myself sit still and not start doing annoying things like pacing or tapping is to read a book. Waiting rooms everywhere must love the fact I read lol.
AWESOME LIST! Love it! π
I love number 9 and agree emphatically with10 (actually all of them). One of the biggest reasons I read is escape. And so I can “see” places that I totally can’t afford to and to live life from perspectives that are otherwise impossible for me. I really don’t understand people who crow proudly that they don’t read. Ergh.
Love this list! I agree with every single one, especially #4-6.
Random fact regarding #2 – I once utterly impressed my history professor by being the only person to know the answer to a couple of his pre-lecture questions about the War of 1812. Facts I knew because of reading historical romance novels. WIN.
I…like…big…WORDS and I cannot lie…
#9 – Perhaps I need to start reading more in public… you know, go to the bar, all dolled up, and whip out my copy of Graceling or Anna and the French Kiss. CLEARLY I would not be going home alone that night! π
I completely agree with your entire list! Love it! Reading is the best.
those are some great reasons–I identify with quite a few of them. kayeΓ’β¬βthe road goes ever ever on
What a thoughtful list, April! I agree with all of these reasons, especially the desire for escapism, travel, to learn, and to swoon π Good idea to read while waiting in lines too.
One of the biggest reasons for me to continue making reading a priority is to instill a love of reading in my daughter.
I LOVE this list! Totally agree with all of it, especially escaping. Also, “to increase my sex appeal” made me lol.
great list. these are all awesome reasons to read. i have only discovered the swoon in the last few years and love reading books with a good romance in them.
Reading is sexy….and we know it.
Yes to so many of this. There’s nothing quite like having this badass vocabulary and people are like “WHOA did you go to Harvard or somewhere similar?” That might be a stretch, but whatever. And I look forward to waiting because of the chance to read.
READING MAKES US BETTER PEOPLE.
Not to mention I love discussing books with all of you guys. LOVE.
:0 Great choice and post! I love all the words i found out through reading too! Ah, i love stating why i love Adrian.
I completely connect to all of your reasons though i haven’t though of the sex appeal bit.
I absolutely love meeting the character’s in books and experiencing their drama-filled and exciting lives!
lol to incree sex appeal
yep that why i’m reading lol
Love it! Great list. I wish I had made a list today!
Yay for your freebie topic. LOVE your list! π I read because I feel more invested in the characters than simply seeing it on a TV show. I get distracted by TV because I analyze their outfits and hair and … lose track of the plot. Haha
I totally agree with your list, especially reading while waiting, it doesn’t feel like time wasted if I have a book to read π
Your number one reason is why I’m your number one fan.
Yeah, books are definitely my main form of escape. Also, total agreement on Fred <3
LOVE your list! What a fantastic idea π
Yes, yes, yes, and yes x10. And AMEN to number 7. I could not would not live in NYC if I didn’t have novels. Listening to an audio book / reading something on my Nook has definitely stopped me from punching multiple annoying people in the Subway.
Um, and ahbviously Fred is the cooler twin. That’s not even debatable.
To increase my sex appeal. -> LOL at this reason! I like reading while waiting as well, makes me feel like I’m not wasting my time and I don’t get annoyed while waiting because I’m being productive.
Learning is definitely my first reason, too. First-hand experience of many things may be better (thinking of travelling, mostly, because some things you couldn’t ever experience) but you can improve your knowledge overall just by reading. Non-fiction may be the best for that, but fiction has much to offer as well.
I’d say most of my reasons come under “learning”. I like to read to literally learn, but also to be more informed about what’s out there in the book world, to be able to know what’s being talked about when classics come into question, to be able to debate. I definitely read historical fiction to escape though, and I love the conversations I’ve been able to have with other readers.
This is awesome. Speaking of waiting in lines, it only just occurred to me that there was probably a Kindle app for my iPod touch, which fits in my purse (unlike the Kindle), so now I can read ANYWHERE. Best idea ever.
Also, I would love for that sexy business to work. I need to figure out where the nerdy guys who dig chicks who read hang out.
You hit pretty much every single one of my reasons for reading. Empathy–yes; travel, escapism, to learn big words (love those mouthfuls!), and all that! Books are so completely awesome. I feel bad for those who don’t like them (GASP!). They don’t know what they’re missing.
Bahaha. I am loving #9. ;D
Reading is one of the best fix-its for depression or bad moods. By the time I’ve finished reading I’ve gone through the tunnel and made it to daylight. Great list.
I LOVE all the reasons you gave for why you read, plus I definitely can agree with a lot of them. Reading is something I can’t imagine living without – and I’m always happy to find people who feel the same.