Reading changes lives

The World Book and Copyright Day on Friday should serve as a reminder that literature, classics in particular, can still make a difference in our lives.

UNESCO designated the day as World Book and Copyright Day in 1995 in order to encourage people, youngsters in particular, to discover the pleasures of reading and to renew their respect for imperishable contributions that great writers have made.

What is worrisome is the fact that an increasing number of people consider it frivolous to take some time off from their busy schedules to read for pure pleasure. An investigation shows that the amount of time Chinese people spend on reading books was less than 15 minutes a day on the average in 2009.