Beyond Words: Reading Will Make You Better!

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in rainy Portland, Oregon, my brothers and I read a lot.

During my busy years in school and later as a doctor and mother, I only read medical texts and journals. But I was drawn back to reading books during a difficult stretch of my life when I turned to books for answers about my faith and my marriage.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is the book that helped me solidify my identity as a Christian. The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck challenged me to explore my interior self, a shadowy place I avoided. I’ll never forget the four discipline tools he described for solving life’s problems: honesty, delayed gratification, accepting personal responsibility, and balance.

Later, when I found myself confused by the complexities of our society and politics, I turned to books about history—which, to my surprise, I greatly enjoyed. Warmth of Other Suns by Isabelle Wilkerson described a past that touched my present: the migration of  six million blacks from the south to escape Jim Crow violence. These migrants included my second husband’s parents and many of my Washington, DC, patients or their parents.

I became a fan of historian David McCollugh. In John Adams and Truman this author describes the courage, wisdom, and foibles of his eponymous subjects in compelling ways that enrich the reader’s view of human nature and history.  One example is how he juxtaposes the integrity and prickly pride of our second President, Adams.

The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero, which I recently finished, is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the roots of our racial tensions. The author’s vivid descriptions of the prolonged and deep divisions in our country during the 19th century make it easy to understand why these divisions persist in the 21st century. Harlan, with his courage, integrity, and clarity of thought, is a role model for us as we seek to heal our country.

A variety of really good books excite me. Most recently I’m into historical fiction.

Let’s call any really good book an RGB.

Think about the last time you read a RGB. Compare that immersive experience with how you feel after scrolling through social media for thirty minutes. If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed that social media doesn’t make you feel better, peaceful, inspired, or enriched in the way books can—usually the opposite.

Research is available showing that reading is good for us. Most studies deal with developmental and learning benefits for children, but there is at least some research that suggests reading may add years to your life.

The truth is I don’t really care if reading adds years to my life. I already know it adds quality to my life…depth, understanding, openness, and zest. Gifted authors can shape words to show us other places and times and take us into the very heart and soul of other people and societies—this is thrilling, and we are so much better for it.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Think about these two questions: 1) When did you last read a RGB? 2) How much time do you spend each day “reading” online feeds, posts, etc. that rarely exceed one page?

2. Start reading to a young child to help them learn to love books and reading. The Enchanted Hour by Gurdon will guide and motivate you. If your grandchild or other young family member lives far away, please email me and I’ll tell you how to set up a video chat reading system with them, like I did with my grandkids in Italy.

3. Since our reading preferences widely differ, I ask you to share with us your favorite books of all times, the RGBs on your list. Personally, I’d appreciate receiving some suggestions for compelling fiction.

Dr. Donna Chacko promotes health of body, mind, and spirit through her website (serenityandhealth.com), her blog, her podcast/vlog series Pop-Up Conversations on Health of Mind, Body, and Spirit, and programs at her church. She is the author of Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey (Luminare Press, 2021), a recent best-seller on Amazon, 2022 Illumination Awards Gold Medal Winner, 2022 Reader Views Literary Award Gold Medal Winner, and 2022 Catholic Media Association First Place Awards.