Reading – A Life Transforming Habit

Reading, more than any other activity, has the power to unlock your potential and, in the process, unleash the “better angles of our nature” was the favourite phrase of Abraham Lincoln, an avid reader who dramatically transformed himself from a poor boy from most disadvantaged sections of the society to perhaps one of the greatest president of the United States of America.

You will be amazed to discover how black letters printed on a white piece of paper have the power to change the direction of your life, towards positivity, success and achievement. Daniel J. Boorstin, the Pulitzer Prize winning historian summed up the value of reading in one simple, yet profound, sentence: “By reading we discover our world, our history, and ourselves.”

This quote pretty much explains the awesome power of reading. More than any other mental activity, reading changes and improves us by forcing us to think… to imagine.. to examine… to grow… and in the process “to discover our world, our history, and ourselves.”

When we read inspiring, thought-provoking books, we grow richer in all phases of our lives. In short, reading has the power to transform us from what WE ARE right now to what WE COULD BE in the future. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, the American essayist, poet, philosopher, “A truly great book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.”

Reading influences us in ways we can’t even comprehend. Research proves that reading changes the way humans solve problems, store information, tell stories, interpret the world, and think about ourselves. Reading even changes the shape of our brains.  When we stop to really think about the impact that reading has on our lives, we’re left standing in awe.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, another American writer, philosopher said “Many times the reading of a book has made the future of a man” Well it sure can make the future of a man; I am a living example of it. After doing my diploma from film institute, I did some sundry assignment as AD in some productions, and then due to some reason had to return to non-film world, and was doing the regular stuff like appearing in competitive examination like banks, civil services etc, then by trick of fate, I joined computers in one of the leading institutions of computer training at that time. I always had photography as my hobby, even before joining FTII which persisted even when I was unemployed, due to financial support of my parents. They used to give me around 1000 rupees every month for photographic expenses like films and printing etc. While doing computers, I was offered a job in the same institute, the job was of a Marketing executive, I never did any job as they do when they are “employed”, and so, after some hesitation I joined the institution as an employee also, I joined as a marketing executive. I did not have much idea what are the various assignments that a marketing executive will have to do in a computer training institute and was learning on the job.

One fine evening my boss gave me a list of some names, the names were of the people who had come to the center to enquire about the course but did not turn up to register. I was supposed to call, call means I had to visit those fellows and enquire why they did not come to study the most fascinating things that humankind has invented – computers!  I never had done any cold call to any one, I never even spoke to anyone I was not familiar with, even to ask for an address or find out the time. I was perhaps scared, but I did not show it, and bravely went on to locate the address and the people living on those addresses. The first people on my list were a doctor couple, by the name Lila Raja, and Kanna Raja, I suppose I will never forget their name even if I get senile and have Alzheimer. I landed in their house at most inopportune moment, the couple were apparently fighting inside their house, and the front door was open, so I couldn’t do the first thing that was written on my mental script, that was to knock the door and when the person opens the door, nicely introduce yourself, so this introduction section was removed from the script and I was standing little bit inside the doorstep, I was trying to figure out the alternative emergency script but before I could do that, a dark heavy lungi clad Madrasi (as in south Indian) came out, possibly he was retreating after a formidable defeat from his better half, as he looked awfully battered, so that lungi clad General of the retreating army found me in his way and retorted in South Indian Hindi “Kya Chahiye” this magical pronouncement of these two words, sent me into dementia and I forgot who I was and why was I standing at his doorstep, I don’t know from where a cassette of my introduction was played, which vaguely informed him that I am the aftereffect of his visit to the computer training institute. To which he said “Kya re, hum institute mein jayega to tum ghar mein ghusega kya, abhi nikal” I felt like I was stripped naked in the middle of an amphitheatre in front of roaring spectators, I was almost in tears and in next shot I was back in my institute, with a resolution, that I will never ever make a house call under any circumstance.

So, from next day on, my ritual of managing the call list started, I would intelligently find reasons for procrastination for each of individual on my list, and schedule their calls next week or a week after, and living my life comfortably without making any calls. Marketing is like scientific experiment, litmus would turn blue if it interacts with base and would turn invariably red if it contacts acid. Similarly if you call, sales would happen if you don’t sales won’t happen, as simple as this. So the lab professor, my boss found out, that I was not doing my work properly, he called me and asked are you justifying your salary, I promptly said NO I thought he would fire me and I would be back to my good old days of getting Rs. 1000/- pocket money from my parents, but for some strange reason he said, are you facing any problem, my ego made me say “No sir” there is no problem, then he said, you have got potential, please apply yourself and if you face any problem speak to me. 

Now coming back to what Emerson said “Many times the reading of a book has made the future of a man”. I had a friend named Adnan Zahir, he was studying MIBA at BHU, he was fond of reading, in fact I was also fond of reading, but during those days I read Sidney Sheldon, Robin Cook, to improve my English, but Adnan used to read non-fiction, the kind of books which I saw at AHW book stores at the railway station but never bothered to check. He was reading a book called “An Autobiography” by Lee Iacocca, he offered me the book, just like that, no connection to my transaction with my boss. It was just a matter of chance. The book, though an autobiography but it was not less than a thriller, a book about endurance, persistence, determination and     work. I rebounded, I started making calls, and the Litmus started to change colours rather frequently, I grew in the organization, won many awards, after doing many things in my career of about over 28 years, I am here asking you to read. Read a book. I will continue on this topic in my future posts as well; till then happy reading.