THE POWER OF READING

By Rahma Salum

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them

Even if you have read one good book in your life you will know what reading gives. Reading gives knowledge, improves your brain, reduces stress, improves memory, improves imagination, develops critical thinking skills, builds vocabulary and improves creativity. It also improves writing skills, improves communication skills, improves focus and concentration, helps us learn about another world, it is cheap and portable form of entertainment; it motivates, improves health and build self-esteem, makes you more empathetic and smarter. Speaking of what books offer will take a huge time because there is a lot which books can give. They are not just readings but they are model of real life and real world. Books are so important that’s why even religions offer holly books like Quran, Bible, Veeda and other sacred books.

I remember my first reading was The autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi. The book is so inspiring and gives life purpose. Mahatma Gandhi is said to be among the wise men in the world. He is the father of independence of India. In his book he shared his life experience since he was a kid. He spoke about all good deeds and mistakes he made in his life. He also shares the challenges he faced as a teenager. When you read about Mahatma Gandhi life experience you will realize that no one is born great but life teaches us to be great ones.

Through reading I realize what am passionate about and what difference I do want to make in life. I realize what legacy I want to leave and which values will guide me. I come up with actions I need to do to clarify my mission [dream], live out my purpose and leave a lasting legacy. I found courage for change making and leave aside fear within me and feel that the word innovation is for anyone.

Let’s look on the overview of some of the books and see what they gave us.

"No one is born great but life teaches us to be great ones"

Congressman John Lewis is an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil right movement. His commitment to justice and non-violence has taken him from Alabama sharecroppers farms to the halls of congress. From segregated schoolroom to the 1963 march on Washington DC and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the medal of freedom from the first African-American president. To share his remarkable story with new generations he presents MARCH a graphic novel trilogy in collaboration with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. The book presents an extraordinary presentation of an extraordinary life and proves that young people can change the world. John Lewis inspires the young people and the future generation of leaders.

Brooke Gladstone is the co-host and managing editor of WNYCS on the media distributed by the New York Public Radio. She has also served as NPR’s media correspondent, Russia reporter and senior editor of both weekend edition and all things considered. With collaboration of Josh Neufeld who is the author, they present the coolest and most charming book called “THE INFLUENCING MACHINE” It is an indispensable guidebook for anyone who wants to make changes in media landscape. The book implies the reality on journalism and democracy.

Didier Lefevre was born in 1957 and became a photojournalist who traveled far and wide working with various newspapers and magazines. At the end of July 1996 Didier left Paris for Afghanistan. He barely returned to tell the tale. It was his first major assignment as a photojournalist, documenting a Doctors Without Borders’ mission. Camera in hand, Didier traveled with a band of doctors and nurses into the heart of Northern Afghanistan where the war between the Soviet Union and the Afghan mujahedeen was raging. The mission affected Didier as profoundly as the war affected contemporary history. His photographs paired with the art of Emmanuel Guibert, tell a story of an arduous journey undertaken by men and women intending on mending what others destroy. From Didier’s pictures and Emmanuel Guibert artwork the book called “THE PHOTOGRAPHER” was born. The book drives us in 1986 to cope with memories of children bleeding to death in Afghanistan. The book takes us to the history of Afghanistan.

I just shared some of the good books and presents what they give us. Now let’s look on a story of a man who become great through reading. His name is Elon Reeve Musk. 

Musk is a successful and a billionaire technology entrepreneur, investor and engineer. He holds a South African, Canadian and U.S citizenship. He was born and raised in South Africa. He is the founder, CEO and lead designer of Space X. He is also involved in developing high speed transportation system known as Hyperloop. In a 2017 interview for a rolling stone cover story, the tesla and space X, he revealed that he was raised by books. He said that he would read science fiction novels for more than ten hours. At the age of 9 he read the entirely of the Enclopedia Britannica. The distinctive personality traits of Elon Musk, critical thinking, accurate self-analysis and hardworking is driven from books. He said that through reading he gained inspiration of his career and ideal world. Musk use his 40 hours per week reading different books and he always makes sure that per year he reads 52 books. He shared some of the books which developed him as a successful innovator like foundation of trilogy, structures, ignition, The ultimate Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy, Zero to hero, Super intelligence, The lords of the king and Einstein: his life and universe. Musk said that the lesson he drew from the works of Isaac Asimov, a science fiction writer is that “you should try to take the set of actions that are likely to prolong civilization, minimize the probability of dark age and reduce the length of a dark age, if there is one”.

I tried to reach some of the writers in order to know their purpose on writing. Why do they write for us? 

I had a conversation with Adam Ismail, a writer and a student at the University of Dar es Salaam. Adam is writing on motivation, intelligence, detective and psychological books. He has written books like Sorrow, Born to die for Lohi, Plan your Future,  Siri iliyo fichuka and My life story worth a movie. Adam believes that everyone loves reading. He said that in Tanzania many people love reading but the problem is how to reach them. He also said that many Tanzanians read when they get free books but when it comes to books which are not for free, they are not ready for that. Adam is using social media like Facebook, Twitter, Whats App and Instagram to reach his target audience. He says, “I don’t aim on making money but I mostly aim on educating my society so, sometimes I have to write on social media some important paragraphs on my book in order to educate those who cannot afford to get a book.”

"I have to write on social media some important paragraphs on my book in order to educate those who cannot afford to get a book.” - Adam Ismail

Omar Zongo is writer and media practitioner working as a reporter and presenter. Omar is writing on motivation, life purpose, politics and religious issues through novels and plays. Among his works are Sodoma na Gomora, Mungu mama yangu, Dhahma, Siasa ya dhuluma, damu na ukandamizaji and Mji wa kamusi. Omar says he realizes that people like reading but they most like simple reading not complex one. He decided to use some simple ways to help them read, like using simple words in his books. Like Adam he is also using social media to reach his audience. He has a blog called Simulizi Zinaishi where he publishes his works of art.

Another writer I had a chance to speak with is Shaaban Maulid who also in other hand is working in a media. He writes on social issues. He says that he wanted to educate people therefore he decided to write on social issues. He also said that on his work someone will find things which are related to real life in the community. He is also using social media to reach his audience.

I had a chance to talk with some of the youths to get their opinion concerning the importance of reading books. For those who love reading said that, through reading they get extraordinary knowledge and they are inspired a lot. But for those who do not like reading they say that they never had interest in reading and find it tiresome labor. When I asked them if they tried reading any book they said no. So this is to show that it is not that people have no interest in books but they never tried to find out what books gives.

Mr. Abdallah Katunzi is a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, he also finds reading one of his favorite hobbies.  I asked him why many Tanzanians are not interested in reading books. He said that it is not every Tanzanian who is not reading books, but many of them don’t do so due to different reasons. First; there is no system of reading books starting from our families, there are very few families who have books at homes. If there are no books at home, there is a little possibility for children to get used to reading books. Second; parents also are not readers; parents stand as a reflection to their children, what they do is what their children will follow. If a child never saw his or her parents reading a book how is he or she going to learn the importance of reading books? Also the system of teaching in schools, colleges and universities do not create the habit of students learning to read books. The system taught students cramming what teacher teaches. So at least teachers have to be responsible on advising students on reading different books. Mr. Katunzi also shared his journey on reading books. He said his family had played a big role in motivating him to read different books. He started reading when he was in secondary level, in form one. His parents bought him all subject books and he was taught to read them frequently. Also there were different books in his home library like history books, politics books and literature books just to mention a few. He gained interest on reading those books at home where that experience made him so fond of reading different books. He said that since the beginning of this year he had read 28 books. Mr. Katunzi advises parents and teachers to influence children on reading different books.

There is always a power in reading. Take an action now and start reading any good book of your choice and realize the power of it.

“I will read enough when I do see the very book indeed where all my sins are writ and that is myself” WILLIUM SHAKESPEAR

Rahma Salum is a student at the University of Dar es Salaam, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, pursuing BA in Mass Communication. She writes basing on social development issues. Besides writing, she also works as a videographer at Mlimani Media.

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