“I haven’t read a book since high school.”

This is one of the scariest things someone can say to me. It’s a statement that doesn’t need to be verbalized because after one conversation with someone, it’s usually obvious that they don’t read. I find it odd when people proud of their lack of self-awareness are excited to share this with me, an English major of all people. 

Literacy is a hot topic. According to the National Literacy Institute, 54% of adults have a literacy level below a sixth-grade level. This means that over half of Americans would struggle to grasp the full context and meaning of Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games” series or other typical middle school literary fiction. 

But why is this an issue? Low literacy levels cost the U.S. up to 2.2 trillion dollars per year. Imagine how much taxpayer money we could save if public schooling properly taught students to love reading. I’m an English major and a writer, so reading books is not only a tool for me, but a hobby. In 2025, I read fifty-three books, some of which were for school, but many were mostly personal reads. This is the most books I’ve read annually, and it was in an attempt to beat my 2022 personal best of 52 books. 

Any university major can benefit from reading as a hobby, and post-graduation reading can be incredibly beneficial. I think K-12 is the best time to develop habitual reading, but it’s always better late than never. Literacy is a muscle, and it must be exercised. Books are kind of like brain exercise in this respect. 

Reading more books, specifically novels, is what is the key here. Reading fiction in particular allows the reader to be transported into another world. A fictional world where the reader must utilize a keen sense of empathy to fully grasp. While non-fiction does have its benefits, fiction is what is really key to fighting a growing sense of American apathy as well as a declining literacy rate. 

It’s a misnomer that nonfiction is ‘better’ or more informative than fiction. But this is a popularized misconception seen even in the self-improvement challenge, 75 Hard, with the rules that entail ten pages of nonfiction reading daily. I think being interested in a book and completing it is much more important than its supposed benefits for self-improvement. 

Reflecting on 2025, I used my public library a lot. People tend to think reading is an expensive hobby, and the truth is, it can be. A new hardcover can be hard to fit into the college student budget, but there are so many free or nearly free ways to read more. Many of the books I read last year were from my local library, and I found a new interest in graphic novels. 

I read the entire “Scott Pilgrim” series, but my favorite was “Superman for All Seasons.” I probably would have been less likely to read a different genre if it weren’t for the convenience of my local library. Many libraries also offer various apps or sites to stream movies, listen to audiobooks, or read online, included with your card. 

Although Campbell Library is closed, Rowan has its own Tiny Library that occasionally pops up around campus with a smaller selection of books. It’s a great way to promote reading to students. 

While Kindles or E-readers are convenient, I tend to prefer physical books. I stare at so many screens in a day that a page is a good break for my eyes. Audiobooks are also a great way to get back into reading, or to enjoy information on-the-go. I prefer audiobooks for non-fiction, which feels more like a podcast. 

If nothing else, being well read is cool. If you’ve picked up this newspaper or read this online article, you probably agree. Literature is simply a medium of information and narrative, and to write it off completely as ‘boring’ only serves a personal disservice. You might just be reading the wrong genre for you. 

So, for my sake, pick up a book. Any book is better than no book. 

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