Introduction: Why Hobbies Matter
Everyone has something that brings them peace, excitement, or joy after a long day at school or work. Some people like sports, others prefer music or video games. But my favourite hobby is reading books. For some, reading may seem boring or “too quiet”. They think hobbies must be loud and active to be exciting. But to me, reading is not just an activity — it is a doorway to a thousand lives, a time machine, and a best friend that never leaves. While others travel by car or plane, I travel through words and imagination.
I believe that reading is one of the most powerful and meaningful hobbies in the world, because it does not only entertain — it educates, heals, motivates, comforts, and transforms. In this essay, I want to share not only how I fell in love with reading, but also how it changed me as a person, taught me courage, patience and kindness, and helped me to understand the world better.
How I First Discovered My Love for Reading
The Rainy Day That Changed Everything
It was a cold, rainy afternoon when my journey with books began. I was eight years old, sitting near the window, feeling annoyed because I couldn’t go outside to play football with my friends. I kept complaining, “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do!” My mother, instead of suggesting television or phone games, went to the bookshelf, picked a colourful adventure book, and placed it in my hands.
“Just read one page,” she said. “If you don’t like it, I won’t ask again.”
I opened it without excitement, expecting it to be dull. But after a few lines, something unexpected happened — the room around me disappeared. Instead of sitting on my sofa, I was suddenly in a dark forest with a brave young explorer holding a lantern. I could almost hear the sound of leaves under his feet and feel the cold wind on my face. My boredom vanished. For the next hour, I did not move. I didn’t even realise my mother was smiling quietly from the kitchen, watching me fall into a world of imagination.
That day, I did not just read a book — I experienced magic.
What Reading Gives Me
Reading is more than entertainment. It offers me four priceless gifts:
1. Imagination
Books paint pictures in my mind more vividly than any movie. Sometimes I close a book and feel as if I have travelled farther than astronauts — through time, fantasy lands, under the ocean, even inside the human mind.
2. Knowledge
Every book teaches me something new — even fictional ones. Adventure stories teach bravery. History books show how civilisations rose and fell. Science books explain the stars and the human body. Even jokes in comic books teach timing and humour.
3. Emotional Strength
There were times when I felt sad or lonely. On such days, books were like warm blankets. They told me, “You are not alone.” When characters in stories overcome problems, I feel stronger too.
4. Communication Skills
Before I started reading, I used to speak in simple words. But after reading hundreds of pages, I naturally began to express myself more clearly. Teachers noticed I was better at writing essays. My friends noticed I was better at telling stories. Reading sharpened my language like a sword.
Types of Books I Enjoy
Adventure Books — For Thrill
Adventure stories make my heart race. They are full of danger, mystery, and clever escapes. Whenever I read about brave heroes exploring caves or escaping traps, I feel like I am right beside them.
Fantasy and Magic — For Imagination
Dragons, wizards, magical kingdoms — these make life exciting. Some people say magic doesn’t exist, but I disagree. Magic exists inside books, and that is real enough for me.
Science and History — For Real-World Wisdom
Not all books are fictional. Some tell true stories of ancient kings, lost cities, or incredible scientific discoveries. Did you know that the first photograph took eight hours to capture? I learned that from a book — not from school.
Biographies — For Inspiration
I also enjoy reading about real people like inventors, athletes, and leaders. Their struggles and success stories motivate me. If they could work hard and change the world, maybe I can too.
A Life-Changing Story: The Book That Taught Me Courage
Not all books are just entertaining — some of them can change who you are inside. One such book came into my life when I was eleven. It wasn’t a school assignment and nobody forced me to read it. I found it by accident in the library. Its cover showed a small boy standing in front of a giant shadowy monster. The title was “The Boy Who Was Afraid of Everything.” Something about it felt familiar — because I, too, was afraid of many things back then: speaking in front of the class, trying new activities, even answering questions loudly.
I borrowed the book and started reading it at night. The story followed Oliver, a quiet boy who always avoided danger. He didn’t climb trees because he might fall. He didn’t speak to strangers because they might laugh. He didn’t try new games because he might lose. One day, during a storm, he found a magical lantern. A voice whispered from inside it:
“Courage is not the absence of fear… it’s walking forward even while you are afraid.”
That sentence struck my heart like lightning. I read it again and again. Courage is not the absence of fear… it’s walking forward even while you are afraid.
In the story, Oliver started facing small fears every day. He trembled, but he tried anyway — and every time he succeeded, his courage grew larger while his fears became smaller. By the end of the book, he rescued his friend during another storm — the same kind of storm he once hid from.
When I closed the book, I looked at my hands. They were shaking. But I realised… I wasn’t scared. I was ready.
The next day at school, our teacher asked, “Who wants to read their paragraph aloud?” Normally, I would have looked down, pretending to be invisible. But this time, I raised my hand. My voice trembled like Oliver’s, but I spoke. And when I finished, everyone clapped.
That book didn’t just tell me a story — it made me courageous.
Comparing Reading with Other Hobbies
People often ask me, “Why don’t you choose a more exciting hobby, like football or video games?” I understand why they think so — most hobbies are active and noisy, while reading is silent. But silence doesn’t mean weakness. In fact, quiet things are often the strongest.
Football vs Reading
Football makes your body stronger, but reading makes your mind and heart stronger. Football lasts for 90 minutes. A book’s memory can stay for a lifetime.
Video Games vs Reading
Video games let you control a character. But in books, you become the character. Games can be fun, but they rarely teach deep lessons.
Music vs Reading
Music touches the heart, but books touch the heart and guide the mind. They give comfort and wisdom at the same time.
I don’t hate other hobbies — I even enjoy playing games and football sometimes. But if I had to choose only one hobby forever, I would choose reading without hesitation.
How Reading Changed My Everyday Life
Before I loved reading, I used to waste free time scrolling through my phone or complaining that I was bored. Now, I never feel bored — because a book is always waiting.
My Daily Reading Routine
- Morning Bus Ride: I read short digital stories on my phone instead of staring blankly through the window.
- Afternoon Break: While others gossip, I enjoy a few pages of adventure.
- Evening Ritual: I make a warm drink, sit under a blanket, and travel to another world.
This habit makes my days calmer and richer. Even if I have a bad day, reading gives me peace before sleep.
Digital vs Paper Books – Which One I Prefer
People often debate whether ebooks or printed books are better. I think both have their own beauty.
| Format | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Books | Real pages, real smell, no distractions | Heavy to carry, take space |
| Ebooks | Convenient, portable, many stories in one device | Eye strain if used too long |
Personally, I love paper books when I am at home — I like turning the pages and marking my favourite lines. But when I travel or wait somewhere, ebooks are my secret weapon.
How I Share My Hobby with Others
At first, reading was a private thing for me. But slowly, I started sharing it.
- I recommended books to classmates.
- I read bedtime stories to my younger cousin.
- I even started a small “reading challenge” in my class where everyone had to finish one book per month.
Some students laughed at the idea in the beginning… but by the end of the month, many of them proudly showed their finished books. That day, I realised something powerful:
Reading is not just a hobby — it is a gift I can pass to others.
Advice for Those Who Say “Reading Is Boring”
Many people, especially children my age, say, “I don’t like reading. It’s boring.” But when I ask, “What books have you tried?”, they usually answer, “Only school textbooks.” That is like trying one flavour of food and deciding you hate all food forever.
Reading is not boring — the wrong book is boring.
So here is my simple guide to falling in love with reading, even if you think you hate it:
1. Don’t Start with Difficult Books
Never begin with a thick classic novel written a hundred years ago. Start with short, fun stories — comics, mystery adventures, humorous diaries.
2. Read About What You Already Love
If you like football — read football stories. If you love animals — read animal rescue tales. If you enjoy magic — read fantasy.
3. Try Audiobooks
Sometimes listening to a story with voices and sound effects is easier than reading silently. Once you enjoy the story, you might want to read the next part in text form.
4. Set Small Goals
Instead of saying, “I will read for one hour,” say, “I will read 5 pages.” Most of the time, you will continue after that.
5. Make It Cozy
Reading in a cold, uncomfortable place makes it feel like homework. Reading with a warm blanket, a cup of tea, and soft lighting makes it feel like magic.
As the famous saying goes:
“People who say reading is boring are simply reading the wrong books.”
What I Want to Read in the Future
My reading journey is far from over. In fact, the more I read, the more I realise how many books I still want to explore.
Books I Dream of Reading One Day
- Ancient Mythology — to understand how people long ago imagined gods and heroes.
- Scientific Discoveries — to see how curiosity changed the world.
- Travel Journals — to experience places I may never visit.
- Books in Other Languages — maybe one day I’ll read in French or Arabic.
One of my biggest dreams is to have my own home library — a whole wall filled with books I have read and loved. And maybe, someday, I will write a book myself, hoping that it will change someone’s life the way many books changed mine.
Conclusion: A Life Filled with Stories
Some people say life is short. But I believe that readers live many lives.
When I read, I am not only myself — I become explorers, warriors, scientists, time travellers, and dreamers. I face dangers without leaving my bed. I win battles without lifting a sword. I cry for characters who never existed… yet somehow feel more real than people I meet every day.
Reading is not just my hobby — it is my identity.
I do not know where life will take me in the future. I may become a doctor, a teacher, a writer, or something else entirely. But one thing I know for sure:
As long as there are books in this world, I will never be alone.
Vocabulary List
| Word / Phrase | Meaning (Simple Explanation) |
|---|---|
| destiny | future that is meant to happen |
| hesitation | moment of doubt before doing something |
| autobiographies | books about real people’s lives |
| convenience | ease and comfort |
| identity | what makes you who you are |
| curiosity | strong desire to know or learn things |
| bravery | ability to face danger without giving up |