Bibliotherapy

Why read? If you're already someone who reads for pleasure, you know what that pleasure is like; if you're not, then you'll have to trust us that it's a lot of fun to read when you don't have to worry about a quiz or a paper. 

Some practical benefits:

• Becoming a better reader will serve you well in any field of study, and practically any career. 
• Reading good books also makes you a better writer and speaker, more able to capture and command people's attention with your words.
• Talking about books you've read can also help you make a good first impression on people, from first dates to job interviews.
• Being a reader is a quality people admire (as long as you're not too smug about it)!

Poetry and short stories are good choices to start. They are easy to finish no matter your reading pace and easy to hold in your mind all at once when discussing them. As they say about classic games like chess and poker, they take "minutes to learn and a lifetime to master." 

When people think about reading, often they'll revert back to the way they were taught to read in high school: that every story has a "point" or a "message" that you must identify, and every point has to be connected to a larger argument about What This Story Means. In our programs we suggest that you  "unlearn" this way of reading to become a good discussion participant. 

Instead, imagine the discussion like you're walking out of a theater with your friends or family who just watched the same movie. Read more on How to Read Well.