Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "reading-nonfiction"
6 Reasons Reading Books Still Matters – Part One
Reading books doesn’t seem as popular as it used to be. Although there are millions of books available, I keep meeting people who have no interest in sitting down and reading a novel or even nonfiction about a topic that interests them.
According to the National Literacy Institute, “44% of the American adults do not read a book in a year,” and “130 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children.”* These are shocking and unfortunate statistics but fixable in the modern age. With our interconnected world, accessing books and other reading materials is easier than ever, yet millions lack interest in picking up a book and reading.
What are some reasons to encourage people to read books? What is the value of reading a few books a year? Let’s talk about it!
But first, let’s get in the mood with the theme song from the excellent series Reading Rainbow!
Reading Rainbow Theme
# 1 – You’re In Control
Many people abandon reading after graduating from high school or college. They are burned out on reading assignments involving dry literature, bland textbooks, and the associated essays and tests. This creates a negative association between reading and the reader; the very thought of opening a book for pleasure makes them cringe in horror.
But post-school, you are in control of what you read. You can read whatever types of books you want on any topic. No looming deadlines, tests, or essays are linked to your reading. With the absence of this pressure and your freedom to choose, you can read in a relaxed mental state and enjoy the experience.
#2 – Increase Attention Span
A relative of mine revealed that they can no longer finish listening to a song on YouTube without getting bored and turning it off a few minutes in. A song! Our attention spans are shrinking to the length of a TikTok video, which is not good. The fact that news stories tell you how many minutes it’ll take you to read them shows that people choose what information they consume based on duration and not content. That’s crazy!
Books can help resolve this issue. They can help you retrain your brain to concentrate, regain focus, and increase your attention span. Think of improving your attention span like you would train for a marathon. Start with shorter books and work up to the longer ones. Don’t jump into a 1000-page novel, which could discourage or overwhelm you.
Begin with shorter books and increase the page count over time. You’ll find that your focus and concentration on other things in life will also increase.
#3 – Critical Thinking
The nice thing about nonfiction books is that they can inform you about a topic in great detail. Unlike pithy news stories or articles, delving into the meat of an issue is a great way to be informed on that issue. Too often, people let emotions or others dictate how they should think about a topic. Reading a book about it can remedy this situation and help you make informed choices as you become educated on the subject of interest.
Obviously, books can be written with biased views, and we often seek out those who share our views (this is also known as confirmation bias). When choosing a book to read, check out the author’s background and their position on the topic. If they are a writer who has a clear bias toward the topic, you may want to find another book.
I prefer nonfiction books that are as unbiased as possible, giving the reader the power to decide on the topic.
Think about what topics interest you and seek out books that discuss them. Read as many books on the subject as you wish, recognizing the author’s bias and deciding if you agree or disagree with their positions.
Next Time…
Three down, three to go. I’ll have more about why reading books still matters next week!
Happy Reading!
SOURCE: National Literacy Institute
According to the National Literacy Institute, “44% of the American adults do not read a book in a year,” and “130 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children.”* These are shocking and unfortunate statistics but fixable in the modern age. With our interconnected world, accessing books and other reading materials is easier than ever, yet millions lack interest in picking up a book and reading.
What are some reasons to encourage people to read books? What is the value of reading a few books a year? Let’s talk about it!
But first, let’s get in the mood with the theme song from the excellent series Reading Rainbow!
Reading Rainbow Theme
# 1 – You’re In Control
Many people abandon reading after graduating from high school or college. They are burned out on reading assignments involving dry literature, bland textbooks, and the associated essays and tests. This creates a negative association between reading and the reader; the very thought of opening a book for pleasure makes them cringe in horror.
But post-school, you are in control of what you read. You can read whatever types of books you want on any topic. No looming deadlines, tests, or essays are linked to your reading. With the absence of this pressure and your freedom to choose, you can read in a relaxed mental state and enjoy the experience.
#2 – Increase Attention Span
A relative of mine revealed that they can no longer finish listening to a song on YouTube without getting bored and turning it off a few minutes in. A song! Our attention spans are shrinking to the length of a TikTok video, which is not good. The fact that news stories tell you how many minutes it’ll take you to read them shows that people choose what information they consume based on duration and not content. That’s crazy!
Books can help resolve this issue. They can help you retrain your brain to concentrate, regain focus, and increase your attention span. Think of improving your attention span like you would train for a marathon. Start with shorter books and work up to the longer ones. Don’t jump into a 1000-page novel, which could discourage or overwhelm you.
Begin with shorter books and increase the page count over time. You’ll find that your focus and concentration on other things in life will also increase.
#3 – Critical Thinking
The nice thing about nonfiction books is that they can inform you about a topic in great detail. Unlike pithy news stories or articles, delving into the meat of an issue is a great way to be informed on that issue. Too often, people let emotions or others dictate how they should think about a topic. Reading a book about it can remedy this situation and help you make informed choices as you become educated on the subject of interest.
Obviously, books can be written with biased views, and we often seek out those who share our views (this is also known as confirmation bias). When choosing a book to read, check out the author’s background and their position on the topic. If they are a writer who has a clear bias toward the topic, you may want to find another book.
I prefer nonfiction books that are as unbiased as possible, giving the reader the power to decide on the topic.
Think about what topics interest you and seek out books that discuss them. Read as many books on the subject as you wish, recognizing the author’s bias and deciding if you agree or disagree with their positions.
Next Time…
Three down, three to go. I’ll have more about why reading books still matters next week!
Happy Reading!
SOURCE: National Literacy Institute
Reading Tip of the Week: Why I Love Non-Fiction Books
In 2025, we are bombarded by information and news 24/7. From social media to news sites, the barrage of stories, facts, opinions, and opinions disguised as facts can drive anyone crazy in the modern age of overstimulation. If you’ve ever seen a topic that interests you but are unsure if what you’re reading is truth or someone’s version of the truth, non-fiction books may be what you need to explore the topic that’s piqued your curiosity.
I love non-fiction books because I can dive into the nuts and bolts of a topic and truly understand what’s going on. All too often, a social media post or article may only scratch the surface of an issue, and what’s being stated could be incorrect or lack credibility. With non-fiction books, you can gain a solid grasp of the topic and a thorough understanding of what’s being discussed.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of the author’s bias, but in a long-form space like a book you can utilize your critical thinking skills to determine whether the author is giving you the information straight, or if they have a particular leaning that attempts to sway you to one side or the other on a specific topic. These biased non-fiction books are pretty easy to spot these days, but it’s always good to go into a non-fiction book with your critical thinking cap on just in case.
If there is a topic you see a story or post about online that interests you, see if there’s a book that will expand your understanding and knowledge about it. If that book increases your interest, the bibliography at the back will lead you toward more books that will help you understand the topic even more.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
I love non-fiction books because I can dive into the nuts and bolts of a topic and truly understand what’s going on. All too often, a social media post or article may only scratch the surface of an issue, and what’s being stated could be incorrect or lack credibility. With non-fiction books, you can gain a solid grasp of the topic and a thorough understanding of what’s being discussed.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of the author’s bias, but in a long-form space like a book you can utilize your critical thinking skills to determine whether the author is giving you the information straight, or if they have a particular leaning that attempts to sway you to one side or the other on a specific topic. These biased non-fiction books are pretty easy to spot these days, but it’s always good to go into a non-fiction book with your critical thinking cap on just in case.
If there is a topic you see a story or post about online that interests you, see if there’s a book that will expand your understanding and knowledge about it. If that book increases your interest, the bibliography at the back will lead you toward more books that will help you understand the topic even more.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
