Why We Still Read Books In The Internet Era

First, you must learn to read. Then, you must read to learn. Reading and writing has been and will always be a vital influence in my life. The two articles I read were, “Brandon Sanderson on Why We Still Read Books In the Internet Era,” posted by Emma Chastain and, “I Am Writing Blindly,” by Roger Rosenblatt. These two articles resonated to me because of my love for technology and interest in human psychology. Without my passion of these two topics, I would not be able to be my creative, imaginative self.
In “Brandon Sanderson on Why We Still Read Books In the Internet Era,” Mr. Sanderson proposes the question: why are books still alive even though technology is drowning each novel page by page? My own reasoning for why books are still alive

is the fact that books govern technology. For example, over the summer, I was able to shadow a college student and professor working on a project to quantify the environmental impacts materials have on a building. In order to know what was going on and to keep up with every new piece of data, I had to read about 100 pages of research documents from multiple universities to understand anything. After I had proven I understand some of what is occurring, they finally gave me my first real assignment. I had to read tons of research papers to be able to use CADD, Sima Pro, Arc GIS, and some of the latest software, machines, and gadgets. I was only able to get this far since the author’s job wasn’t to, “give you everything; it’s to give you enough,” The rest was me figuring and directing how the project will lay out. If I had to read the books in order to understand and use the technology behind the books, then books are truly governing technology.
Life. Death. The only thing in between is a story. I am most intrigued by human psychology and the brain. Our society has answers to nearly every single question imaginable. But not the question: why do we do what we do? More specifically why do we write when we are, “in states of repose or terror.” In Roger Rosenblatt’s article, “I Am Writing Blindly,” he dives into psychology and the idea of writing while in fear. For example, he used Dimitri Kolesnikov’s message to his wife. While Dimitri was in terror, he decided to write rather than figure a way to escape. In real life we can apply this to the upcoming anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Many of the citizens wrote and called their families of the danger occurring. Whether it was on a plane, on the ground, or on the 95 floor of the North Tower. No matter what level of terror, humans decide to write about their feelings, ideas, and literature to leave behind a part of them no matter where they go. It just perplexes me why it is an impulse. Without these writings, poems, and stories, the world would never know what truly occurs in the forbidden parts of the world.
In conclusion, reading and writing are essential in my life. From summer technology projects to human psychology, it is impossible for me to stop reading and writing. Except this one time, I will stop writing. But, know that this essay is never finished.