Books Grow With Me

Francis Bacon once said, “Reading makes a full person, thinking makes a deep person, and conversation makes a clear person.” Reading allows us to see the world from a wider view.

I have loved reading since I was very young. Books have always been an important part of my life. When I was learning to speak, I listened to audiobooks. In kindergarten, I read storybooks with pinyin. At that time, whenever I got a new book, I would finish it as quickly as possible. However, I often paid more attention to finishing the book than understanding it. After I finished reading, my mother would ask me about the main story and the characters. I often could not answer her questions, so she asked me to read the book again. This time, I would slow down, understand the story, and think about what I could learn from it.

As a child, I was curious about everything and always asked questions. Because of this, popular science books became my first choice. The Children’s Encyclopedia introduced me to the power of science and technology. One Hundred Thousand Whys helped me understand the wonders of the world. Later, science books allowed me to imagine many new possibilities. These books taught me a lot and planted a dream in my heart. I hoped that one day I could use science, technology, and knowledge to help create a better future.

As time passed, my choice of books also changed. I moved from fairy tales to encyclopedias and then to literature. When I became a teenager, I read the Four Great Classical Novels of China. After that, I began to explore well-known works from around the world.

In How the Steel Was Tempered, the main character, Pavel, grows up in poverty but never loses his faith. Even when his health fails, he continues to fight until the end. His strength encouraged me to work hard and never give up. Robinson Crusoe taught me to be brave enough to explore and overcome difficulties. It also taught me to stay calm when facing problems and to find a way forward.

Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem made me think about the relationship between humans and the universe. It increased my interest in the unknown and made me even more eager to learn. The Harry Potter series brought me into a world of magic while teaching me about courage, friendship, and persistence. These stories have encouraged me whenever I have faced difficulties.

Maxim Gorky once said, “Books are the ladder of human progress.” Because I love reading, my parents created a small library for me at home. The rows of books on the shelves make me proud. This room is also my safe place. Whenever I enter it, I feel calm and satisfied. It gives me a quiet space to read, think, and learn.

Now that I am in my third year, schoolwork has become much more demanding, and I have little free time. Still, whenever I feel confused or tired, I go into my reading room and pick up one of my favorite books. Reading helps me relax and gives me the strength to keep moving forward. The room is often filled with the smell of books, and the ideas in them stay with me long after I finish reading.