My Reading Habits

There is this famous quote saying Reading

makes a full man which I believe very true.
Reading is a way of exploring knowledge and
learning many interesting things. It is a habit that can
make people who are full of knowledge. Reading has
provided many educated people to this world. There
are people who have never been to school, but still
are accepted as educated ones. They have gained
success through reading. It can be a habit to some
people while some can be addicted. It is one of the best hobbies in the world. As students or
undergraduates reading is very important to reach their targets. As an undergraduate this
phenomena has always been a part of my life. This essay will be very interesting for all the
reading lovers.
Reading is my favorite habit and it is a part of my life. It has been a huge help for me
to build up myself as a whole person. Reading habits of different people are different from each
other. It is also different according to the context and the content read by an individual. My
reading habits are very different from others. There are three main types of my reading habits
based on what I read. The first one is addicted writings which I cannot help myself to stop
reading when start them to read. The second type is the books that I prefer to read, but not
continuously like the first type. Such contexts can be read at different intervals by me. The
third type is writings are what I have to read whether I am interested or not. These habits of
reading are still with me from years back times.
In my childhood living environment, my access to
knowledge was limited to school education and books.
Therefore I made my best possible use of those two
knowledge resources. I read everything that I am interested
in. As a school student I read subject related books,
newspapers, story books, etc. I read things whenever I am
free. I read books in my school van while traveling to
school. In those times I preferred very adventurous,
secretive books like Sherlock Holmes series of Sr. Arthor Conon Doile, Jamaica Inn by Daffny
Doo Morrier, People of the mist by Rider Hagard and other story books. But at those times I
read only Sinhala books and translations. Whenever I was bored, I read Books. Especially when
I was in the school, I read books even when teachers teachings are boring by keeping them
under my table.
I loved reading books not because it only gave me knowledge but because
books made my mood and nature. When I read investigation books like
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I started to think critically about situations. I
thought more deeply about everything which made my examinations easier for
me. I also learnt that books are the best way to learn about life. When I read my
favorite book series Polliyana by Elinar H Potter, I learnt how to be happy. It is a book about

how to find happiness from everything in different situations of life. Books compelled me to
be the person who I am today.
My reading habits were very useful for me for my examinations. I read extra books
when I was doing my Ordinary level examinations. I gathered knowledge not only from my
text books, but also from other related books. When I was bored while studying for
examinations or when I was lazy, I read other subject related books. Which had nice pictures
and everything. Those contexts read by me added more value for answers of questions papers.
Teachers always appreciated my reading habit because it made me different from others.
When I was growing up, in the last years of my school time, I started to read English
books. The first English book I read was Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J K Rolling.
Though I have watched the movie of it before reading the book, I still loved the book more.
Then gradually I started to read more and more English books. I was used to carry a book in
my bag wherever I go. While travelling on the bus
or waiting for someone, I take that book out and
read. The place where I was didnt matter to me at
all. However when I finished my school life, my
English was way better than other students thanks
for my reading habits.
I can read at wherever I am. Sounds, visuals or any other disturbance from the
environment doesnt affect my reading. But still, I love to read books outside a building or in
a natural environment. I always love the peacefulness in such an environment. That
peacefulness always blends with the reading causing my mind to concentrate totally to the
book. In natural environment the air is always fresh and warm. I feel like reading more and
more when I am in such peaceful places.
With the time I entered my university life where reading played a
crucial role. However when I got my laptop, my habit of book reading was
reduced. At the initial times of the university life I started to watch TV
series rather than reading. But when I received my library permission card,
reading came back to my life. There were lots of books of different fields
in the library. I loved reading books of adventures, fictions, love stories,
psychology as well as other academic books. I was always used to take
two books and one was kept in my bag while the other is on my bed. When
I am attending lectures, if I get a free time I read that book in my bag.
When my friends are not around to hang out, I read that book. And in the evening when I go to
my boarding place or the hostel, I read that book on my bed for about half an hour before I get
a bath. Then before I go to sleep I take the same book and read for about another half an hour.
The favorite books I read from library are Sole survivor, Rawana Mission and a translation
called Vansakkarayo.

Reading was very important for my academic works also. When we wrote practical
reports, we had to write a discussion. Most of the times the things I had to write were collected
from books and through internet. Books in the library contained springs
of knowledge and science. I loved those books with colorful pages and
the content in them were very clearly expressed most of the times.
Gradually I started to read through internet. This is where I started digital
reading. I read numbers of web pages to collect my academic
information. I understood that internet is a very huge source of
knowledge. I started to read more and more. I learnt to read eBooks.
This reading habit through internet was very useful for my academic
works while it still is.
As a researcher, reading is very important for me. I have to read numbers of research
articles to collect my knowledge. Therefore I read books from the library as well as I use
internet to collect information. At day time I engage in my research work at the laboratory. In
the evening I read numbers of articles and books to gather information for my literature survey.
Most of the students who are not used to read, find this quite difficult. But for me it is very
helpful to learn things. My friends sometimes says that they envy my ability of reading. With
practice I have gained through years I can now read very quickly.
My reading habits have added many things for my life.
Through reading I have gained a vast area of knowledge that a
person can achieve through a life time. It has changed my
habits and my life practices. Reading has given me strength and
solutions to overcome my problems and face critical situations
bravely. The best thing is that when terrible things happen to
me, I am used to think that I have read worst and move on
from it quickly. Reading has deepened my relationships with others. I have gained lot of good
friends whose friendships are started just by talking about a book we both love. My habit of
reading have increased the value of my life. Reading is not just my habit, it is my passion. I
will never give up on it.