When was the last time you picked up a book, and actually read it for fun? Honestly, I can’t really recall the last time I really remember meeting anyone who chooses to read for fun anymore.

There are many reasons why people chose to not read. Among the most common excuse I’ve heard is that they find it boring to just sit down and read.

Books have been around for a long time, and they were the primary source of entertainment for a lot of people. Now, in the age of technology, everyone has a reason not to read.

It seems to me that there are not a lot of people who chose to read books for simply entertainment anymore.

They’re too preoccupied with whatever is going on their phones or social media, and I’m not going to lie, I do the same things. But it gets to the point where I just don’t want to stare at a little screen in the palm of my hand throughout the day.

I read for the sheer enjoyment of reading. I’ve been reading books since I was a kid, growing up in Chicago. I even remember the first book I started reading for fun outside of class: Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events”.

It was so much fun that I had developed a hunger for finding new reads. At this point, I can’t even say how many books I’ve read, but they greatly outnumber how many books I was forced to read in school.

It’s cool to hang out with friends and family, watch TV and just playing games on your phone, but sometimes, when you want to relax and not worry about

what’s going on Facebook or Twitter, it’s not that hard to pick up a book and read.

Sure, you could argue that reading an e-book on your phone or tablet counts, but it’s still not the same feeling grabbing an actual book.

Some people don’t like to read, and that’s fine, but the thing about books—it truly helps your imagination grow. The words in books can create a whole new world in your mind, and the possibilities are limitless.

Some of the more recent movies, like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and the Maze Runner, are based on books, and people really enjoy them. Whenever I get my hands on a really good book—the right book—it doesn’t take much for me to become entirely absorbed.

If everyone were to really try and find a book for that simple pleasure, I think a lot of people wouldn’t see it as a chore or an errand anymore, but as an enjoyment.

Luis Martinez is junior journalism major. He can be reached at denopinions@gmail.com.