Cara

I have often wondered what it means to be "well read." In today's society, this seems to be a very subjective term, plastered with stereotypes. The image that most often comes to mind is that of a scholar: quick-witted, knowledgeable and someone for whom all passion lies in works of non-fiction. If this is really accurate, someone could read hundreds of fictional books a year and still not be deemed "well read."

Herein lies the problem: there are too many genres to generalize and it is all a matter of personal bias and taste. Working at a bookstore, I am constantly surrounded by books written by everyone from Socrates to Robert Munsch, and from Ayn Rand to Nora Roberts, etc., so how does one decide what is important to read?

Is a person who reads fantasy novels any less intelligent than one who absorbs books about political science, and vice versa? And when you have finally decided which genre best suits you, which books within it are worthy of your consideration and time, and why? The answer dwells inside your own mind and heart.

The way I see it, a good book will not only entertain you, but it will also rev your personal, intellectual engine. It does not matter whether this happens by exploring possibilities through physics or through examining the human soul via fiction, as long as it makes you think; for to ponder is to be intellectual, and to become an intellectual because of literature is to be well read.

While we are on the subject, a question comes to mind: can a person be intelligent without reading? The answer requires one to consider exactly what intelligence is. Books exist as a means of information, a way of recording and sharing truth (in fiction, you learn truths about yourself by relating to the different characters and circumstances). So by reading, you soak up all the information the book has to offer and thus become knowledgeable. With this knowledge, your intelligence begins to kick in, processing the information and enabling you to form unique opinions. Intelligence is merely the way you view facts after they are assimilated, whether through books, TV or – heaven forbid – real life experiences.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter what you read, or even if you don't read at all; what really counts is whether or not you keep an open mind. I have a belief that every one of us wants to learn something, academically or otherwise. It is more a question of figuring out what exactly that might be and how to go about doing it.

Just remember that wherever this particular journey may take you, stay happy, stay honest and stay pensive.