“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
This quote by George R.R. Martin perfectly sums up my journey as a reader.
I am Roshan from New Delhi. I have always been a lone bird, which explains the absence of any friends in my life. That’s all there is to my introduction. As regards the question as to how I became a nerd, it goes like this: after finishing my 12th grade, I was left with absolutely nothing to do, as my average marks ensured that I was unable to secure admission in a regular college. As a result of the ensuing depression, watching television and listening to music all day long became a routine. Just when I seemed to have accepted and come to terms with this unproductive lifestyle, one of my relatives threw an embarrassing yet eye-opening statement at me.
“You have to make something of your life. If you keep watching TV and listening to songs, all you will do is waste your time. And believe me, son, there’s nothing that one regrets more than the time that is idled away”.
This statement woke me up my slumber of inactivity. It made me realize that I needed to do something to earn money, and that, in order to make money, I needed to choose a career and work on my skills accordingly. However, paradoxically, this newfound determination consolidated a sense of indecision about what I was going to do and how I was going to go about it. Being an introvert, I didn’t really have anyone to consult.
One day, I stumbled upon a Wikipedia page of a successful millionaire. This motivated me to do more of the same – I started following and tracing the journeys of many other well-to-do people. I gradually developed this idea that reading the books authored by someone with immense experience and a proven track record in their field will give a boost to my knowledge. Fascinated by this belief, I started reading books written by experts. It goes without saying that this had a profound impact on my thought process.
Lastly, one piece of advice that I’d like to share with everyone and anyone reading this story to the end, is that reading books authored by professionals is like getting a home tuition – you get personalized lessons at your own pace. In fact, that’s the best thing about books in general. They are probably one of the cheapest and most useful learning tools out there. After all, books are the reason why I don’t really feel lonely any more.
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