How reading changes your perspective

Does reading change your view on life? How about the world around you? Or the people? Can reading change our perspectives?

One person may argue that these questions are of a philosophical nature. After all, each person has different experiences when reading a novel, watching a movie or partaking in various activities. People can only write from their own perspectives - their beliefs. However, and I can only speak personally here, I like to believe that reading can in fact change our perspectives of the world around us, even in small doses.

Growing up as a child, I was book obsessed. Now, I mean obsessed in the way that when I got grounded, I didn't hide my phone so that it would be taken away from me. Oh no. I hid whatever book I was currently reading at the time. Many people found that weird. They'd laugh, either at me or how silly it was, but it was who I was - who I am today. So why did I do that? The answer is simple really: I didn't believe that a phone could keep me entertained or connect me to the outside world that I was now prevented from entering for the day. Instead, I believed that a book could allow me to enter into the outside world through the ink on the pages. I still do.

Reading can change our perspectives in many ways. As a child, it was allowing me access to the world outside of my room; allowing me to perceive the outside world from inside a four walled indoor environment. Today, during this pandemic, it offers the same comfort. Reading also changes my perspectives in numerous other aspects of life, however. Depending on where the novel that I'm reading is set, it may change my perspective on the traditions and cultures of certain areas. For example, you may have one idea about Irish people if you're not from Ireland, but if you read a book written by an Irish author where the book is based in Ireland, those of you guys living elsewhere may get an inside look at how us Irish talk, do certain things, our cultures and our traditions. In fact, a very good book based in Ireland that I would recommend you guys to read is "Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling" by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen. (See more about this book in it's in-depth review on the Book Review section of this blog!)

Reading may provide more personal changes of perspective regarding people. For example, say you read a book where the character is suffering from a certain illness that somebody close to you suffers from. Reading such a book - getting to know how the character feels, sees things, thinks - could possibly change your perspective towards a real person. Because of this, you gain insight to what that person must be going through, enabling you to further connect with said person. Books, a series of novels, short stories, poems, anything that you read really, can change your perspectives on many aspects of life, even if you may not realise it. You may have one opinion of certain topics, read a book and come out the other end of the pages with an entirely new or somewhat changed perspective. In every day life for most people, this can be done by something so impactful as the local newspaper. It is only when we truly delve into the philosophical question "does reading change perspectives" do we really see how much of an impact reading can have on our every day lives, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, perspectives. It really and truly is something to think about.

Please, let me know what you guys think in the comments!