To finish off this discourse on books and reading, I would like to discuss why good books are written, why that matters, and how books can change our lives.
In 2 Nephi 4:15, it says, “And upon these [plates] I write the things of my soul…for my soul delighteth in scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.” If you substitute the word scriptures with good books, the prophet’s words represent the intent of many authors. Authors of the best books write the things of their souls, and they write for the learning and profit of man. “The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts” (attributed to either Oliver Wendell Holmes or John Greenleaf Whittier). The author writes, and speaks, and whether his or her words are meaningful depends on the listening heart and mind of the reader. It has been said that reading a good book is like opening a window into the heart of the author (Little Women). Although no words are spoken aloud, the author and the reader communicate, and through this medium the sincerest forms of conversation occur. In order for this to take place, the reader must open his or her own heart and mind. One person talking “at” another does not lead to communication unless the other person talks back. Here, Ralph Waldo Emerson speaks clearly as to what the reader must do in order to achieve this valuable prize: “Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart.”
Yes, the reader must do some work himself if he wants to benefit from reading books. But it is a small price to pay, for in using one’s mind and thinking about a book, one stretches his mind and gains mountains of knowledge from as little as one phrase. In the movie Ever After, one of the characters ignorantly says, “Some people read because they cannot think for themselves.” To her, I say along with Charles Dudley Warner, “Nothing is worth reading that does not require an alert mind.” In order to profit from books, you have to be able to think on your own, for without your response to the words on the page, how can you and the author communicate? Would there really be any point to reading if you didn’t think about what you read? Edmund Burke commented, “To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” Similarly, Francis Bacon affirmed that “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Books are written “for our profit and learning” as we liken them to us (see 1 Nephi 19:23). I would like to add my pearls of wisdom to the words of these great individuals, but they need no elaboration.
It is also important to consider that one ought to read all good books, not solely those with which he agrees. It is difficult to fully know your own beliefs without learning the opposing view. Some will refuse to continue reading a book that suggests ideas or morals contrary to their views, but it is of greater value to finish the book. In so doing, you will have a clearer understanding of your own morals. “If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions” (author unknown).
In conclusion – the conclusion of only this very short discourse; indeed, one could go on for pages and pages about the magnitude of this subject – reading is necessary if we wish to remain an intelligent species. It is through books that we pass along eternal truths and wisdom. “A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy” (Edward P. Morgan). I, for one, relish those times when I can have this wonderful experience, and encourage all to take opportunity to do the same.
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