Why Read in 2026?

Never before have we had so much access to words. Everydaythousands of words pass before our eyes. Notifications. Headlines. Captions. Emails. Group Chats. We consume more text than almost everyone in all of history. Yet today reading feels increasingly rare.

Instead of wondering why this is, there is a different yet equally important and relevant question to ask: Why read in 2026?

To truly answer this question, it is important to think about what reading asks us to do. There is a distinction between “reading” countless work emails and sitting down to read a book. When we truly read, we are invited to linger over sentences, revisit earlier passages, tolerate moments of confusion, notice patterns, and see how parts become a whole. Simply put, when we read we are asked to slow down.

Museum educators have a technique called “slow looking.” This activity consists of spending an extended amount of time with a piece of art. This is done with the intention to discover hidden details and gain a deeper understanding of the piece. The same can be applied to a book or poem. The longer we spend with a text the greater our understanding of it will be. In fact, “slow looking” and reading are some of the las few remaining activities that reward attention over efficiency.

Let us think about that. We live in a world of instant gratification, a world that does not value attention but seeks to distract. By slowing down, we reclaim our attention. By reclaiming it, the reading we do can give us knowledge. This knowledge is how we can cultivate ourselves and our habits of mind. These habits of mind are how we can create a better self and by extension a better world. Reading is not simply a way of acquiring knowledge. It is a way of cultivating the habits of mind that allow knowledge to become wisdom.

Take for instance patience. Reading asks us to remain with uncertainty. A difficult paragraph cannot always be understood immediately. A novel cannot be appreciated after the first chapter. A poem rarely reveals everything in a single reading. We learn that understanding comes gradually rather than instantly. In a culture increasingly built around immediacy, reading reminds us that many worthwhile things cannot be rushed.

Literature allows us to practice these virtues alongside others.Just as Odysseus learns patience during his journey home in an uncertain world, so can we. And we can do this by reading. Both in practicing reading and enjoying stories. Every generation believes it lives through uniquely uncertain times. Yet the questions that trouble us, such as how to endure loss, face uncertainty, build community, or find purpose, are questions people have wrestled with for centuries. Reading reminds us that we are not the first to confront them, nor will we be the last. In this way, books become more than collections of words. They become conversations across generations.

Every story eventually comes to an end, but the conversation it begins does not. Libraries exist to keep that conversation alive.This Little Library, J.K.'s Book Box, is one small place where that conversation can continue. It stands for the principles of open discourse, lifelong learning, and community involvement. It is a reader’s solitude and a welcome respite to those who want to think. So welcome. Borrow a book. Leave one behind. Read something unexpected. Read something difficult. Read something beautiful. And if a story changes the way you see the world, or even yourself, I hope you’ll come back here and continue the conversation.

Written by: Kyle Martin