"Reading books."

"I have always been a reader. There have always been books in my life from my earliest recollection. A voracious appetite for the written word. It has always bought me pleasure and joy. ...
    "[T]here is more to reading and books that any practical or pragmatic considerations. There is the joy or reading. And in that respect I unashamedly prefer the physical book – printed pages between covers – to words on a screen. For me reading is a tangible activity. ... printing [an] article or piece and annotating it or highlighting it with a highlighter. Physical engagement with the text. ...
    "Reading books is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable activities that anyone can do. Books can transport us to different worlds, teach us new things, inspire us, and make us think. Reading books can also improve our mental health, cognitive skills, and creativity.
    "There are a number of elements that make up the joy of reading.
    "One is that books stimulate our imagination. ... We also imagine how we would feel and act if we were in the same situation as the protagonists. Reading books allows us to escape from our reality and enter into a different one, where anything is possible. Reading books can also help us develop empathy, as we learn to understand and relate to the perspectives and emotions of others.
    "Books can enrich our knowledge and understanding of the world. Books can expose us to different cultures, histories, sciences, arts, and philosophies. ...
    "Reading books can also help us improve our vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills. Reading books can also challenge our assumptions and beliefs, and make us more critical and analytical thinkers. Reading books can also inspire us to pursue our passions and interests, and to discover new ones. ...
    "Reading books can spark new ideas, insights, and solutions to problems. ... Reading books can also encourage us to express ourselves, to share our stories, and to create our own works of art. Reading books can also help us develop our own voice and identity, as we reflect on our own experiences and values. ...
    "[B]ooks are always there, ever patient, waiting to be read or, in the case of my many favourites ... re-read. My only concern is that I shall be left with more books than my allotted time allows. But every moment with a book is and will be savoured, celebrated and enjoyed."

~ A Halfling from his post 'The Joy of Reading'