Neil Gaiman's lecture on why reading for pleasure is very important

When did you last read for fun fiction book? Not a book that will be useful for your business, and a book for the soul? It's just when you're reading, get pleasure from the story, and do not try to immediately identify a pencil or bookmark especially important and useful points. Usually the lessons of literature very different, they do not need to seek out and remember - reading comprehension will come to you by itself after you finish reading. Art books no less important special literature, and it talked about this in his speech in London, Neil Gaiman, English science fiction writer, author of graphic novels and comics scripts for films.

Who else but a writer, to talk about why people (especially children), so it is important to read books?

As we mentioned above, Neil Gaiman - science fiction writer and his main job is that he writes books for adults and children. He invents stories and write them down on paper. Thus, he earns his living here for 30 years and, of course, the popularization of reading fiction in his best interest.

He believes that reading for pleasure - this is very important, as we have recently, unfortunately, are so fixated on productivity and optimization of processes that read, mostly books that somehow related to our work.

When I was in high school and then at university, I read many books. But as soon as my work was the treatment of the vast amount of information, I almost forgot about the fact that such a reading just for fun.

In this race for time and productivity is not no room for pleasure, though in theory all should have been the other way around. Reading the right books was slightly resemble a neurosis, as I began to feel a bit inadequate, if you do not read, or at least did not look at some of the titles of the books are recommended highly intelligent and respected people.

And only thanks to the grown-child, I began to read other books and to meet again with their favorite characters of my childhood, "Winnie the Pooh and all-all-all" "Bear Padington", "Moomin and the Comet" (the rest of the books in the series), "The Wizard of Oz", "We are all from Bullerby" and many other beautiful children's books.

Why is it so important to read fiction? Here that on this occasion said Neil:

I'm obsessed with as a writer. But even more I'm obsessed, as a reader. And so I stand here under the aegis of the Reading Agency, a charity whose mission is to give all people an equal chance in life, helping them to become confident and enthusiastic readers, liquidate illiteracy. Because it is changing, as we begin to read the book.

And this is what I want to talk about today. That gives us a reading fiction.

Once I was in New York and listened to the talk about the construction of private prisons - an industry that is growing now very much in America. The prison industry needs to plan for its future growth - how many cameras they need? How many prisoners will be in 15 years? And they found out that they can very easy to predict all future changes, using a very simple algorithm - they figure out what percentage of the 10-and 11-year-olds can not read. And, of course, these same children can not read for pleasure.

The prison industry needs to plan for its future growth - how many cameras they need? How many prisoners will be in 15 years? And they found out that they can very easy to predict all future changes, using a very simple algorithm - they figure out what percentage of the 10-and 11-year-olds can not read.

Of course, we can not say that among the literate population is no crime, but there is a definite correlation. And I think that all this is happening partly because educated people read fiction.

In literature, there are two applications. First, the reading can be equated to soft drugs, because you feel a slight excitement on soon learn denouement of the plot, and it needs to turn the page and read what is further. Even if it is hard, and who is in trouble, you will still continue to read to find out what it's over.

This is a very real exciting and it makes us read more, learn new words, to think in a different direction and on. Continue reading to understand that reading itself can be enjoyable. And once you understand this, you will find yourself on the path to reading all. Reading is a key factor.

People who can not understand each other, can not exchange ideas, can not communicate.

The only way to grow a literate people - is to show children that reading can be a very enjoyable experience and instill in them a love for literature.

Some adults like to filter books for their children and tell them what the book - good and worth ban. All this is nonsense, nonsense and snobbery! Because there are no bad children's books. All children are unique and they have to find the stories that they need at this very moment.

Taste your children do not necessarily coincide with yours. You have to give them the freedom to read what interests them.

Another very important point - fiction develops imagination. When you watch a movie or an animated film, you have served the finished picture. For you have already thought and portrayed all the characters and their surrounding in the world. When you read the book, you must include your imagination. And the better the book is written, the easier it is to introduce readers to the events described, the characters and the world in which they live. Thus you learn empathy and compassion - this is so that people form groups.

Thanks to the book, you realize that it is not necessary it should be that way. Everything can be completely different!

This is especially true fiction. During his visit to China in 2007, Neil was talking to a Chinese official, and during the conversation he asked him about why there have long been banned fiction and fantasy? The officer told him that they sent a delegation to the United States in the company of Apple, Microsoft, Google and ask questions to people working there, in charge of innovation. How they managed to invent such a thing? It turned out that all of them as a child interested in reading fiction books.

These books can help you find a way out of a difficult situation or to boost morale when you are sick or you're in trouble. They open us a window into another world, in which we can find not only a temporary shelter that will allow us to regain strength, but also inspiration or answers to difficult questions.

Children who do not read the book, it is easier to deceive and mislead. They are worse oriented in the world around them, they are more difficult to solve the problem and, most importantly, they will be much more difficult to change the world for the better. Because they simply do not know what can be otherwise.

As Albert Einstein once asked about how to make our children smarter? And he answered very simply and wisely: "Do you want your children to grow up smarter? Read them stories. Do you want to become more intelligent? Read them more fairy tales. "

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