Nowadays, it can be really difficult for teens to find time to read. Between school, homework, sports, spending time with family and hanging out with friends, we really don’t have that much free time. Most people can agree that reading is important for stimulating your brain and retaining skills like imagination and focus. However, even when we do read books, a lot of teens will pick up a quick romance or a graphic novel. While these can be fun, entertaining and great for people just getting into reading, it’s very important not to forget the classics when picking out a new book.
Classics, from Jane Austen to Shakespeare to George Orwell, can be dense and challenging to get through. They’re long and a commitment, but an important thing to remember is that they have stood the test of time. For decades or even centuries, they have been praised as masterpieces, meaning that there’s a very low chance that you’ll find one that’s poorly written or poorly thought out.
These books force you to use your brain and focus on something intellectual. Relaxing and doing things that are easy and fun is something everyone should do, but we can’t forget to balance that part of our lives. Sometimes, the only intellectual thinking that teens will do is during their classes, which can be unhelpful if it’s not something they choose or are very interested in. Picking out your own book, sitting down every once in a while and persevering through it is a necessary and often neglected mental process.
Another thing to consider is that classics are a key piece of our culture, going back hundreds of years, that can be easily missed if we sideline them for less difficult reads. Movies, TV shows, books, comedy and even politics all regularly reference and make use of the classics. These famous, longstanding novels aren’t just good for you; they’re something that can connect people all across the world and bring them together.
Picking up one of these books and throwing yourself into it right off the bat is difficult, and definitely not for everyone. Especially for first-time readers, I would recommend listening to an audiobook every once in a while, or reading it aloud with someone else whenever you find the time. These can be great ways to spend time with family or loved ones, and it’s a project to take on that comes with many benefits. It’s a challenging process, but books like Little Women, Frankenstein and 1984 can give you a new outlook on the world around you and a feeling of accomplishment. So, the next time you head to your local library, skip the romance section and pick out a classic.
