You may have heard about “classic” books in the past. Whether from the 20th century or thousands of years ago, they probably sounded daunting, scary, or too hard, but I’m here to tell you today, reading them is 100% achievable, and not only that, but it’s also completely worth it. This essay will go over why, in complete detail, how doable it is, how it can help you get smarter, and not only that, how it can expand your mind and make you think better. 

Here are some reasons why it is an achievable goal. Firstly, you can do it on your time. No matter how long a book is, you can make progress whenever you want. Have a few free minutes in your day? It could be a good time to make some progress and do some reading. Maybe even set a required page amount per week, but if that feels like a chore, don’t do it! It’s all about you being in control. Second, no matter your diagnosis, reading “classic” books is achievable if you take your time and stay in control, because remember, it’s not an assignment, it’s there for you to enjoy, like the author intended, and as I’ll argue in later paragraphs, you probably will enjoy it. Just go back if you get stuck or put it down for a minute. If you can read fast, read fast; if you can’t, don’t. Also, if you don’t know a word, just look it up!

Now that you’ve heard about why you shouldn’t be afraid of advanced books, I’ll tell you about what makes them worth reading. First, they’re interesting. Think about it, a lot of “classic” books are about Greek gods or World War 2 or really anything you could possibly be interested in, and the only barrier is in your mind. Anything you could want to know more about is covered. Second, they’re written beautifully. Reading a modern book or at least some of the books you’ve probably read to this point, may give you an impression of writing as relatively simple, but in reality, passages can be like art. Similes, metaphors, and vocabulary come together to make an incredible product. Third, and most unexpectedly for some, reading is fun! I know, I know, you’ve heard it a million times, from teachers, that one nerdy classmate, me, but if you give it a shot, not as work, not as an assignment, but just as something fun and fascinating to do, I promise you’ll enjoy it. 

Third, where to get started, if this article has done anything to convince you to read something older and part of the “canon,” then you may be wondering where to start. Well, the answer is simple: go to your local bookstore, preferably not a Barnes and Noble, and they’ll have a “classics” section or ancient stuff will be in its own section, and more modern great works will be scattered around. Then, get your parents to pay for it; they’ll love to, these books impress people. Finally, go home and start, as described above. Here are some starting recommendations with a one-sentence case for each of their appeals. Homer’s Epics are fascinating; everything you’ve wanted to learn about Greek heroes and mythology is in there. The Catcher In The Rye, while not as relatable today as he once was, the protagonist will capture your attention and keep it. Slaughterhouse-Five is a mind-bending epic set primarily in World War II and written by the great satirist Kurt Vonnegut. The Things They Carried, an exploration of the Vietnam War and that era, is done with captivating language and a setting that screams: He left out nothing; this was their war. And finally, I’ll recommend The Call of the Wild, as the protagonist is a dog, but also because it’s an odyssey through nature; if you enjoy nature, you’ll enjoy this. So those are some good options, and they’re all achievable if you follow my method to help the reading process, even Homer. 

Finally, the conclusion, reading is possible for anyone, and if you’re reading, you should be reading the right stuff. I’ve followed through explaining why, how, when, and what, all of it, so that you can have all the info you need. So now it’s left to you, what’s left to you? To go out to that bookstore and to start a new adventure, and good news, there are millennia worth of great authors ready to take you on one.