Reply: The Purpose of Reading

I NEVER post questions to Facebook like this one, but I was so curious to see what people would say if I asked them about the purpose of reading. I asked this:

I've been pondering this question, and I'm wondering what the world of Facebook thinks. What is the purpose of reading? 

Is it to be actively engaged? To think about the book as you are reading and after you've finished? For pure pleasure and enjoyment? To understand and comprehend? For knowledge, to learn? Something else? 

What do you think is the purpose of reading?

Here were the varied responses:

NB: We were discussing this in my American Masterpieces class, so I had been thinking of it too. The things you mentioned are all big components of why we should read. Even if it’s only value was pure entertainment, that would be good enough for so many purposes. In 1987, E. D. Hirsch wrote in his Cultural Literacy 6 reasons why we should study literature: 1. To gain insight into the human condition. 2. To learn about history and historical persons and actions. 3. To learn about language and literary forms. 4. To become cultured. 5. To become a better person. 6. To gain pleasure.

KL: That is a fabulous and thought-provoking question! I think I read for these reasons:
-to relax
-to learn/gain specific information
-to see and understand the world through a wider lense; to empathize
-to keep myself learning and growing
-to enjoy-which is a little different/more active than just "to relax"
Corollary question: what is the purpose of writing? Do they fully coordinate or not necessarily?

KDS: Stress relief. Needed escape from the moment.

KA: I read to gain knowledge. This is why I prefer non-fiction. I read about topics I'm curious about.

JWDA: escape...(unless it is for a study of some sort)

DM: To discover the thoughts of another, without the need of their immediate presence.

HEH: to learn important, or interesting or mundain new things, to help keep my brain or what is left of it active!

My Response: Thanks for all your thoughts on this question. I see a running line of individuality regarding the purpose of reading. There are many purposes and reasons to read and as we are all unique individuals with various interests it makes sense that peoples purposes for reading will vary. Thanks for the input!

K, Wonderful corollary question. Reading and writing are reciprocal. The more you read, the better you write. The more you write, the better you read. You can separate the two, but it's not wise. They feed and grow off of each other. 

I teach my students three broad purposes of writing--to inform, to persuade, to entertain. At the core of all of those is thinking. I firmly believe that writing is thinking. That's what makes writing incredibly difficult to learn and to teach. Writing enables and forces me to think about my topic. I have to understand it enough to write clearly and concisely. I have to be able to organize my thoughts coherently for my reader to follow the story, topic, or argument. Writing slows my brain down, so I can process the new information which in turn, makes me a better writer. To see the reciprocal nature of reading and writing. As I read, I can study how the author crafts his/her writing, so I, as the reader, can understand and learn his/her thoughts and ideas. 

Not sure if that answers your question at all!