Basically, this means reading textbooks, research journals, newspaper articles (particularly business news) and magazines which includes reading from Internet sources. I also read international newspapers such as Financial Times, The Washington Post, Asian Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, to name a few. There are two local newspapers that I read online regularly – The Star and The Edge.
Sometimes, reading online is free as there are no charges imposed on the reader. You just need access to the Internet through a smart device such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer. However, occasionally a newspaper does require that a reader subscribes by paying a nominal subscription fee for a digital version, which is cheaper than the paper version. Some newspapers use a “teaser” strategy to encourage subscription. For example, a newspaper gives a reader, say, 5 free articles to read per month, so if you wished to read more, you had to pay. One example of a newspaper that does this is The New York Times.
When I read newspapers online, I do not read every single piece of news; instead, I only read those that interest me. However, I find the editorials worth reading because of their writing style and fascinating insights.
I prefer reading the printed versions of books, magazines, and newspapers, which some may consider old-fashioned. The satisfaction of thumbing through the pages is missing when I read online. Moreover, I enjoy the smell of a new book and the initial excitement of owning one.
I often read in bed at night before sleeping, as physical books can be folded and dog-eared, unlike reading online, for example, on a Kindle. Additionally, bookmarks can be used to mark pages, allowing me to return and resume reading from where I left off. Coincidentally, I have a collection of bookmarks that ranges from expensive ones purchased during visits to art galleries and museums to humble train or bus ticket stubs, each of which has its own beauty and elegance in design.
There are social bookmarking tools like Diigo (https://www.diigo.com/) that can render physical bookmarks redundant. Online social bookmarking offers various functions, such as adding, annotating, editing, organising resources, and sharing pages. Reading online is convenient; you can read anywhere at any time as long as you have Internet access. Thus, the advantages of online reading cannot be undermined. Reading as a habit can be easily inculcated since nearly everyone now carries a smartphone wherever they go. The only drawback is that Internet access may not always be free, unfortunately.
I do read and scroll through social media platforms like blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, mainly to stay updated on current events, as many renowned authors and writers maintain blogs or post regularly.
Why do I like reading?
Firstly, reading is a form of self-entertainment. Once, I am immersed in a book, I forget about the world around me. Reading is a form of escapism from the mundane activities that I do daily. One does not need to travel far to experience another country. You just need to pick a book to read!
Secondly, reading enhances my language skills, particularly my vocabulary and grammar. As I am not a native English speaker, I find that the more I read in English, the more I discover the subtleties of the language, such as nuances, idioms, slang, and inflexions. This applies to any language, not just English.
Initially, I had always thought that learning a language is just for the purpose of communication. This is true but learning another language and the ability to read in the language gives a reader much more than just communication skills.
Rather, you are transported into a cultural sphere that is entirely different from your own. Reading allows for a glimpse of different cultural perspectives that can expose you to diverse views. For example, if the writer is a native English speaker, there is a slant towards an Anglo-Saxon perspective. Even in this, there are subtle differences between American and British writers in terms of style, themes, focus, grammar, and spelling.
Lastly, and most importantly, reading is the basic foundation of knowledge. To gain knowledge, you must read. Reading provides ideas upon which knowledge is built. Thus, reading serves as a fundamental building block in the acquisition of knowledge. In short, building a reading habit is simple but priceless!
