As someone who takes pride in being a constant reader, I think the value of it is exponential. Reading is your shield, where ignorance is the attacker. I honestly believe that it is what you don’t know that can be your downfall. Although it may sound melodramatic to some It is very true to me. There is a reason why slave owners didn’t allow their slaves to learn how to read because it is powerful beyond belief. It’s like working out for your brain. In the case of the ted talk, I do believe to some level that school ruins reading for a lot of people. We, humans, have a proclivity to resent things that have been forced upon us which is why the love of reading is not firmly established in the hearts of many. I think we must fall in love with reading, just as someone falls in love with a sport or music. I remember my first time understanding the value of a book. I was reading 12 rules of life by Jordan Petterson and I took my time with it. That book changed my perception of the world, and I couldn’t have achieved that level of thought if it wasn’t for that book. Each book is a way of being able to see through the eyes of the great individuals that have come before you which can help you navigate through life that much better with each read. These people live their lives experiencing things we may not have experienced. They make choices we may never make and understanding what they’ve done can help you with what you need to do. That’s why to me reading is a child that protects you from your ignorance and I am truly grateful to have the ability to have the privilege of reading the books I do.