(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-24 07:18

Yesterday was the day for the world to pay tribute to books and authors. In 1995, UNESCO designated the day as World Book and Copyright Day in order to encourage everyone, and young people in particular, to discover the pleasures of reading and to renew their respect for imperishable contributions great writers have made.

Such great writers as Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died on that day in 1616. And Russian American writer Vladimir Nabokov was born on that day and so was French writer Maurice Druon.

With Internet playing an increasingly important role in our lives, more and more people depend on it for information they need. But there is no denying the fact that the civilizations we have inherited and whose fruits we enjoy today would have been impossible without those writers whose wisdom enhanced cultural and social progress.

Yet, what is worrying is the phenomenon that fewer and fewer people spare time from their busy schedules to read for pure pleasure. The dictates of expediency have made it a luxury for many to read books of literature, the classics in particular. Many young people would chat with their friends or play computer games online rather than read books in their spare time.

Statistics indicate that only 5 percent of the Chinese read books regularly, and the percentage of people reading literature in their spare time has been in decline in recent years.

Ironically, with more people becoming more educated, books of literature in general and the classics in particular are losing their appeals. The message is that the motivation for reading is undergoing a change. More are turning to instructional books for practical purposes. The best sellers in book stores are usually those that can help students pass a particular kind of examination or help a particular group of professionals to get a certificate.

The result is a subtle loss in the quality of life for individuals, who are very likely to fail to understand better the meaning of life and thus unable to enjoy life better

As far as the long-term prosperity of a country is concerned, the quality of its citizens, who know how to contribute to its sustainable development and to the overall strength of its nation, makes all the difference.

(China Daily 04/24/2008 page8)