Liba Hopeson
Craving new things seems to be part of human nature. People long for new clothes, cars, phones, and many other things. Often, even when they do not really need them, they still buy. Owning something new brings delight and a sense of pride to many. People also love to visit new restaurants simply because they are new and different. Naturally, we like and desire what is new.
The same is true for books. For those of us who love books, there is an unending fascination with new releases. I have a desire to buy new books. I have taken screenshots of countless book covers. I even keep a diary with the words “Books and Authors” written on its cover. Inside, I list the names of books and authors I hope to buy when I have the money. Sadly, I once lost a diary that contained an even longer list than the one I have now.
But books are not cheap—especially good ones. And good books are not always easily available in our states; most of the time, we have to order them online. This becomes a real challenge for people like us who are in ministry. We want to buy serious and reliable books, but they often cost a lot. We do buy books, but we do not always have the budget or funds to purchase some of the best and most valuable ones.
One day, while craving many new books, a thought dawned on me: Why not read the old, unread books I already have? If you look closely at your own bookshelf, you may realize that you have not read many of the books you own. So even though we may not have the money to buy new books, we do have time to read the older ones we have not yet touched. God has given us time, and we must use it for learning, so that we may grow and become resourceful. Time, unlike money, is given equally to all; what differs is how we use it. Reading is one of the most faithful ways of using time well for growth.
Sadly, however, the culture of reading is slowly dying. Many people no longer read at all, and even those who do read are reading far less than before. This decline is visible across countries. In the United States, long-term time-use surveys show that reading for pleasure has dropped sharply over the past two decades. In the United Kingdom, polls reveal that around 40% of adults have not read or listened to even one book in a year. In India too, the trend is worrying. Surveys show that only about one-third of children and young adults read books in their free time, while the majority prefer mobile phones, videos, and social media. Although academic reading still exists in India, reading for pleasure is steadily declining. Across the world, screens are replacing pages, and people now spend far more time scrolling than reading.
Because of this sharp decline, some scholars, educators, and policy thinkers have described the loss of reading as a “national threat.” This does not suggest that reading less will immediately harm a country. Rather, the concern lies in what reading cultivates within individuals—critical thinking, depth, and reflection—and what society loses when these qualities fade. Reading trains the mind to think slowly, carefully, and deeply. When a nation reads less, people become more reactive than reflective, more emotional than thoughtful, and more easily influenced by slogans, misinformation, and half-truths. Educators warn that societies with weak reading cultures may face declining critical thinking, poorer civic participation, and shallow public discussion. Over time, this can weaken democracy, leadership, and even moral reasoning.
There are many reasons for this decline. One major reason is our growing dependence on visual media. We derive quick pleasure from videos, images, reels, and short clips. Reading, on the other hand, requires patience, silence, and effort. Life also feels rushed, and reading seems slow in comparison. Many people say they do not enjoy reading simply because they have never read long enough to experience its joy. Visual content gives instant stimulation, but it rarely demands deep thought; reading demands more, but it also gives more in return.
The pleasure in reading comes slowly. We begin to enjoy words when we learn through them, gain new understanding, and stretch our minds. This pleasure is deeper and more lasting than what visuals provide. Reading shapes our thoughts, sharpens our language, and deepens our faith and understanding. It helps us listen better, speak better, and think more clearly. Books introduce us to wisdom beyond our own experience and allow us to sit with great minds and grow inwardly. For people in ministry, reading is not a luxury—it is part of faithful preparation.
If we truly desire growth—intellectual, spiritual, and moral—we must reclaim the habit of reading. We may not always have money for new books, but we almost always have time for the unread ones waiting quietly on our shelves. Perhaps the first step is not buying another book, but opening one we already own. You may be hesitant at first, but as you read page after page, the words begin to draw you in. Soon, reading becomes a pleasure—one of the deepest and most lasting joys of life. In doing so, we not only use our time wisely but also help preserve a culture of reading that our generation—and the next—so desperately needs.
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