What makes a good reader?
Good readers mean a better society, a better nation and a better world!
Translated from Kurdish to English by: Agora Warger
If we look closely at the basic principles, then we realize that reading is a step, a process, and an outcome. Therefore, when someone starts reading, they have taken the first step towards making changes in themselves. However, if we understand the principles and the importance of reading, we will realize that the second important step in reading is the way one reads and benefits from each of the books read. This is where we realize the importance of the third step, which is to create impact and achieve results. So what makes a good reader?
Let's examine the following story…
Alaeddin Sajadi, in one of his stories and proverbs in Rishtay Mirwari, cites: it is said that in the early days in one of the mosques in Sulaimani, a muslim man went to the mosque for the noon prayer, but instead of four rak'ats, he states the intention of eight rak'ats. The mullah of the mosque heard this and after the man finished, he asked him, "sir, the noon prayer is only four rak'ats. Why did you make it eight?" The muslim man said, "master, I did eight. May God accept and count four good ones from them!"
So we can say that a good reader does not accept everything or reject everything from what she/he reads. Instead, a good reader harvests several ideas from each book and creates an idea from all of them. A good reader doesn't work on absorbing the ideas in the book because reading should teach you to criticize, change, and innovate, not just reading and getting stuck!
From another perspective, a good reader has the beginning, the path, and the outcome in mind; a good reader knows why she/he is reading and has a purpose!
Reading is one of the ways to expand your knowledge and raise awareness in both individuals and society. Hence the issue of reading and becoming a good reader has more significance. If the reader does not go to a higher level and instead remains in the circle of small groups, the reader has not achieved the main goal of the reading process. Here we come to the third important step of reading and the third task of a good reader, which is the result and effects of reading on the reader.
Why should having good readers rise to a higher level?
Because the reader is someone who exists; he exists because he is someone who has an opinion, and a good opinion makes a good impact.
To go further into the heart of being a good reader, let's take the word “awareness” as an example. The basis of reading is to awaken individuals and groups, and this is to facilitate different opinions, logical discussions, and a rational listener. The existence of all these in society results in each individual innovating and promoting in their respective fields and positions, all together creating a better government, a healthier nation, a better world. Accordingly, how can having good readers not rise to a higher level?
If we look at countries around the world, we can soon see the differences in the level of awareness of societies and the differences in their way of life. If we go a little deeper, we go back to the biological nature of humanity. Yes, we must go back there! If we look at different species of mankind in history, we see that multiple species and even different groups of people who did not realize the dangers of their environment and the ways to save themselves and their society have disappeared. On the contrary, those species that have become conscious and found a way to communicate have not only been able to survive, but have also been able to develop as a species and turn into their best selves.
As a result, awareness is the key to survival and the continuation of a species!
