“EVERY time we read a book, we experience personal growth, expand our knowledge, and see cognitive development”. With this assertive statement, actress Sonali Bendre Behl launched her new book titled “A Book of Books” -- designed to encourage people to read books. The book is non-standard one -- with very little narration, but interspersed with little highlights positioned in pages attractively, making the reader to take a meditative pause and ponder over the point on offer. Right in the beginning, Sonali Bendre Behl offers as many as 13 reasons why we should read. The loud-thinker has no intentions of offering a review of the book. But as he picked up the book from the open-shelf of the book store, he felt compelled to bring to the readers’ notice the wonderful advocacy of reading as a matter of human virtue the celebrated intellectually-driven actress has indulged in.

 

The physical production of the book -- its thoughtful design (almost on the lines of a picture-book), its contents, and the design that can attract anybody’s attention. But beyond all those is the idea of promoting reading as a desirable human activity -- which Sonali Bendre Behl has put forth for the benefit of general public. A George Martin quote lingers in the reader’s mind: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives on once”. And then begins the chapter on the 13 reasons why we should read -- which include benefits ranging from spiritual elevation to social acceptance to intellectual refinement to the mere physical on e such as being able to sleep better. But then also comes the advice that somebody getting into reading for the first time should be careful about the choice of subject -- so that the interest in reading does not wane. Of course there is a proud mention of India’s ancient culture and tradition in which books occupied special place and the Indian society’s ongoing commitment to dissemination of knowledge. However, Sonali Bendre Behl does not stop at print-on-paper books alone. She encourages resorting to audio and video and digital books as well.

 

‘No matter the form of the book, you must read’, she seems to insist -- most convincingly. She also advocates book-reading communities, and talks of some very book stores and libraries that have made a mark on human consciousness over time. Of course, there is a separate chapter on book-reading by children and how the activity would benefit the little ones -- in so many varied ways -- such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, comprehension skills ...! For those who have been reading books -- in whatever format -- all their life, this book may not mean much. But for those who have not been initiated into the activity of reading, Sonali Bendre Behl has presented a strong case to step forward and pick up a book and start reading. The loud-thinker chose to present the book to his readers as part of his lifelong commitment to promoting reading as an activity essential to healthy human growth. He often asserts that the standard, traditional book will never go out of fashion and demand -- no matter the advancement technology may bring. In this column, the loud-thinker has often narrated stories of iconic personalities who treat books as their permanent companions of life.

 

The introduction of Sonali Bendre Behl’s new book is a part of that ongoing commitment of loud-thinker to reading. In modern times framed by technology, many people ask a rather arrogant question about why they should read and what benefit they would derive from reading. To all such people, Sonali Bendre Behl’s book is a good response. To all such people who ask why they should read, the loud-thinker has only one point to suggest: First start reading. That will erase all your doubts and questions and arrogance. For, you cannot debunk books without knowing what the books actually offer.