Pleasures of Reading
Or
Value of Books 

Books are a great treasure house of knowledge. They are the living example of man's march on the path to higher and higher civilization. The great men who died long ago, live in their books. We feel their very personality and existence when we read their books. We feel as if they were conversing with us. As Milton has said, "A great book is the precious life blood of a master spirit."

Books not only store civilization but also carry it forward. All coming generations get the light of knowledge from the books written by their ancestors and try to improve upon that knowledge. Civilization cannot make much headway in a country where there are not many great books.

Libraries are the store-houses of books. There are public as well as private libraries. We get through books the latest knowledge in the fields of arts, science, commerce etc. This knowledge is helpful to us and enables us to achieve success in the field of our choice.

Books are our never-failing friends. They never desert us even when all fair weather friends have deserted us. They dispel the dark clouds of gloom from our minds and increase our happiness if we are already happy. Through the ages, the scriptures and other great books have provided immeasurable solace to the wounded and strife-torn humanity.

There may be books prescribed for, some course or profession, but then there are books for general study. The books of literature-poetry, drama, novel, short stories etc. are generally highly thrilling and inspiring if they are written by a good author. There may be tragic, comical or humorous books. The question is that of an individual's taste.

To be a lover of books, though not to be a book-worm, is a sign of good luck. A voracious reader gets much greater pleasure from reading books than a miser gets in hoarding money. The knowledge embedded in books is valueless; so is pleasure obtained from reading them. A good book absorbs the whole spirit of man: the reader's pleasure is indescribable.