"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies": I wholeheartedly agree with this famous quote by George R. R. Martin. The written word, either printed or digital, can open portals for us that take us to lands (imaginary or real) and enable us to live the lives of Hagrid, Elizabeth Bennet, Old Major, Bertie Wooster, Topshe, Himu, or any other character we most closely identify with. Living countless lives in the skin of innumerable characters of all ages, shapes, sizes, ethnicities, cultures, demographics, and nationalities is one of the most exciting advantages that only books can offer. Visual media leaves little to the imagination, whereas we can create our own little world just the way we want to with books. Although sketches and illustrations do lend to creating characters and context, printed words have the power to fire our imagination and place ourselves in the centre or periphery of stories, wherever we are comfortable. 

If not for books, we wouldn't have seen millions of authors making their mark on the global literary landscape over the centuries. Access to and studying different subjects, genres, styles, and techniques influence how authors develop their ideas, clothe them in words that reflect their unique vocabulary and background, and embellish their writing with styles varying from serious to satirical to comic to deadpan to wordy to succinct. Only after reading tomes of literature can an aspiring author delve into the world of words, armed with the confidence, diction, and style to write with flair.

Not only that, but books also help shape our ideologies to make each of us a distinct personality with a particular set of characteristics and values. Only by reading can we become conscientious individuals and make our society better. Many like me must have developed a strong sense of right and wrong when we were taught George Orwell's Animal Farm in our formative years. Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance is a brilliant manifestation of twists of Fate that can drag riches to the rags and pull up the rags to the riches, a forever reminder of the importance of being just in all our dealings if we don't want that big bite from Karma. Alex Haley's Roots or Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad are excruciatingly painful accounts of Black slavery that make us question if humanity even exists and give us the voice to rise against injustice. 

Books are our best companions when we're bored, have too much time on our hands, or when we feel sad or lonely. In summer and winter vacations, on weekends, and even after retirement, books can always uplift our mood, teach us life lessons and language skills, make us more aware of and understand our circumstances and surroundings, thereby allowing us to be more inclusive and empathetic, and prod us to pause and reflect. In a recent DW video, author Ellen Hopkins claimed that her books helped readers save themselves from self-harm. This proves how crucial books are in being a friend and guiding us to make the right decisions at the right time. 

Although a November 2024 report by The Guardian shows a sad fall in the habit of reading among children, I'm hopeful that audiobooks and e-books will figure in the daily routine of parents and young adults to continue to tell stories of resilience, humour without hurting, bravery, inclusivity, empathy, sympathy, otherness, joy, hope, and true humanity to ensure that the future generations grow up to be strong, steadfast, and with a voice that heals more and hurts less. 

Zertab Quaderi is an SEO English content writer and social media marketing consultant by day and a reader of fiction and nonfiction books by night. In between, she travels and dabbles in watercolour painting.