Analytical Essay On The Importance Of Reading Books By Paul Fairfield
In Paul Fairfield’s podcast” The importance of reading books”, 2018, he begins reminiscing about his teenage years, where he loved books. Afterwards, he starts focusing on reading in present times. He discusses how technology has overtaken reading books. Today’s youth read fewer books compared to his teenage years, where books were a bigger part of life. He notices how schools, universities and colleges replace books with online text and the web. Fairfield explains why reading books is more uncommon today. Moreover, he argues that not reading books has a serious deep impact on us. Due to the vast amount of technology distracting us, we have a harder time reading and concentrating on books. At last, he shows his worry of the consequences of not reading books.
The podcast “The importance of reading books” by Paul Fairfield, 2018, explores the deep impact reading has on people. When Fairfield discusses the various benefits of reading, he uses several arguments. He relies not only on his personal stories but also on scientific arguments. More precisely the impact reading has on the human brain. Fairfield claims that books shape minds and the brain. He supports this statement with science. “They shape minds. The brain itself, scientists tell us, is moulded this way and that through repeated experience; a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity (..) (p.1,16)”
His use of scientific facts makes his receivers question the consequences lack of reading brings. This makes him come across as knowledgeable since he uses ethos. He also points out that even though our brains are wired the same, reading affects our minds vastly different. “Habitual internet surfers or video game players brain is not hardwired differently than a book reader, but the habits of mind become resistant to change as habitual actions” (..) (p.1,18-20).
The former quotation shows Fairfield’s formal style with complex sentences. A second indicator of his formal style is his choice of words. He uses scientific terms such as “neuroplasticity”. This suggests to us who his writing is for. His writing is for an educated audience. His receiver would most likely be educated people for instance educators, hence why he mentions them towards the end. The podcast composition takes the form of an argumentative essay. The podcast begins with a rhetorical question “Does anyone read books anymore?” (p.1, line.1). The sender wants the younger generation to question their relationship with books. This sparks curiosity and makes the audience more interested in his point of view and even more so combined with the title of the podcast. The title supports his intention. The intention is seen when Fairfield shows his concern and worry for the future. Reading books shouldn’t become less common. “As one set of mental habits is gained, another is lost and educators and the rest of us need to think about not only what we are learning, but what we are unlearning” (p.2, 73-75). His intention is for the youth to read books and educators to convey the importance of books to the younger generation.
On one hand, the web is much faster and convenient for students than reading books. But on the other hand, books help us educate our minds in areas school aren’t able to explore. (p.2,5-7) Secondly, it helps us increase our attention span and further develops critical thinking ability. Reading might also help people develop empathy since you are more likely to put yourself in the shoes of the characters in your book. Books help us develop ourselves. Lastly, reading gives individuals the ability to broaden their point of view and understanding of each other. Young people have more to gain than lose by reading books.
At the beginning of the podcast, he relies on his personal story, and compares his generation´s relationship with books to the younger generation. He starts out with a personal anecdote of love and joy; he has received from reading he appeals to our feelings.
“School didn’t inspire me, but those books did. They lit a fire in a teenager that would grow for decades “(p.1, line 7). This portrays him as a curious teenager with a passion for books. He supports his argument further with examples, scientific explanations which show that screen technology affects our critical thinking.
“What educators call “critical thinking” is very difficult for the mind that habitually skims, scans, and uses texts.” He mentions the writer Nicholas Carrs writing, in which he points out that the idea of reading a book has become old-fashioned and silly. He cites a philosophy student “I don’t read books anymore. I go to Google and absorb relevant information quickly”. Fairfield’s teenage years and love for books creates an antithesis compared to today’s young people such as the philosophy student since they aren’t reading books anymore. This dual approach is effective because the personal stories help make Fairfield’s claims more relatable to listeners, while the scientific ones make him seem more intelligent and trustworthy. Many students can relate to Carr’s student, since we get information faster through the Web. At last, the podcast ends with Fairfield worrying about whether screen technology will lead to a lack of critical thinking and deep feeling amongst the new and future generation. Without books, they remove the possibility of developing critical thinking.
To sum up, everything that has been stated so far, books have a massive influence on how young minds develop. As a consequence of not reading, we can possibly lose our critical thinking ability and our attention span will also get shorter. According to Fairfield science backs this up. Furthermore, books develop us and help us broaden our view and understanding of the world. This is why his intention is, that educators tell their students the importance of reading, thus the future generation start reading books, and end up gaining all the countless benefits from books.
