Just a few of the reasons why you should carry a book around with you everywhere you go

We’re all friends here.

Friends that just so happen to be readers, and probably carry books around in our bags. I know I do. 

If there’s any time I’m leaving the house, you can guarantee I’ll have managed to stuff a book into whatever bag I’ve brought. Even if I know I won’t be able to read it while I’m out. Why? Because I’m a bookworm. 

If I didn’t have a book in my bag at all times, I’d be lost. But over the years I’ve had so many people say to me “But what’s the point? But you’ve just said you’ll not read it? But it just adds weight to your bag? But this? But that?”

WELL – you questionably bothersome people – I’LL TELL YOU WHY.

And if you’re reading this, and you always carry a book with you – First of all, I like you. Second, this post is basically just a list of excuses reasons you can use. And lets you know you’re doing it right.

So here’s why you should carry a book around with you at all times, even if it’s completely unnecessary.

Like I said before, we’re bookworms.

It’s in our nature to have a book nearby. It’s more shocking if we don’t have a book with us, than if we do.

Carrying a book in your bag is usually a no brainer. You throw a book in your bag first, before anything else. It’s a priority.

I mean, are you even a bookworm if you don’t carry a book of some form with you? 

Although you could just not have room in your bag that day and can’t wait to get home to your shelves. But shhh… we’ll ignore that for now. 

Pretty self-explanatory.

You have some spare time. You’re bored while on public transport. You’re waiting for someone to arrive. You’re on a break.

Well, why not leave this boringly mundane world we live in for a little while and jump into the fictional world? Go frolicking around in fictional settings, skip through fantasy schools creating magic or run through fields with that book-boyfriend from the contemporary you’re reading. And with there being so many stories in the world, you can never be bored!

I’ve actually used this reason way more times than I care to admit.

OK nearly every time I leave the house

But hear me out. You know how you can throw things into your bag and everything will just sort of fall to the bottom and become a pit of unknowable mess? Well, having a book in place can potentially help with that.

You put a book in your bag, and instantly you have something to keep things sturdy. You can slot your purse/wallet on one side and your notebook along the other. This especially works with canvas bags. Those things just fall into whatever shape they feel like, so having a book in there can at least make on surface flat for you to organise everything against.

If someone sees you have a book with you, they might just become interested enough to spark up a conversation.

And I’m sure any question that sounds similar to “You like reading? / What are you reading? / What’s that book about?” will increase our social skills that little bit more and actually encourage us to talk to them. It’s very hard for readers not to take any opportunity to talk about books, so being given a chance to talk about what you’re currently reading by someone who actually asked? Well, there you go. Conversation in progress.

Or…this reason could be flipped to suit the situation. If there’s someone you don’t particularly like trying to talk, or they’re just bothering you in general, nothing says “Go away” quite like having your nose stuck in a book. 

But we’ll forget I said that. We’re all nice here. *glances around shiftily* 

Or at least it will if you don’t call reading “such a wordy hobby” *shakes head at self*

Reading is associated to intelligence for some unbeknownst reason…which isn’t actually unbeknownst, since in the olden days not everyone could read, so those who could were seen as educated. So that was a pointless sentence. And even though it’s just a given that everyone can read now, the stereotype seems to have stuck.

Reading seems to be a higher praised hobby, even now. It’s like how my family are proud that I read so much, because it seems more productive than sitting playing games or watching TV everyday. Which I don’t really understand, because I still just sit around for hours. But I guess I do learn things with every book…

Well, if people think you’re more intelligent for spending hours in the fictional world, you can’t really complain. It’s a win win situation really. 

We’ve all come into contact with at least one old person that disapproves of everything any younger person does. The grumbly types that look down their noses and mutter about how phones have taken over the planet.

And while they have the right to grumble away their days, there’s nothing quite like getting a nod of approval from one of them. Trust me, I’ve gotten one.

People always think you’ll get your phone out when you sit down waiting for something. And the slight look of surprise on their faces when instead you pull out a book? The slight nod of approval from those prejudiced grumbly people?

Worth. It. All. 

I mean, books don’t magically turn into blankets when you need them to. Though that’d be great. Imagine needing a blanket to snuggle into while you read and being able to completely and literally wrap yourself up in the book? That’d be amazing.

Anyway.

I’m sure there’s been times where you’ve been stressed. And if you haven’t experienced stress, THEN WHERE DO YOU LIVE BECAUSE I NEED TO MOVE THERE.

But those stressful situations? I’m sure you don’t want to be in them. Surely you want to calm down? Surely…you need a distraction?

BEHOLD. THE BOOK.

Instant distraction. Escapism is key. Books are your friend. Your supportive, distracting friend who will always be there for you no matter what (as long as you pack it into your bag, you know,  the whole point of this post). 

Those information pages inside the covers are there for a reason. Maybe you’ll need it one day?

Maybe it’s something as simple as…someone asking you what you’re reading, and you can’t remember the author’s name. Maybe you want to pick up the next book in the series, but you can’t remember which book is next – so you look at the inside pages. Maybe you have a sudden interest in what year it was published. Maybe you noticed a book advertisement in the back and thought it sounded good so you’ll check it out.

You never know. Those little tidbits of information might come in handy one day.

Kind of ironic using paper as a paperweight, but it works.

Picture the scene: you decided to do some work outside but the slight breeze is just messing up all your papers, or it keeps turning the page of your notebook. Annoying, right? Well instead of scouting around for a pebble, pen or random food substance that’s heavy enough, just whip your book out and place it in the corner. Problem solved. 

Isn’t it always the case? People ask you to jot something down when there are absolutely no flat horizontal surfaces (otherwise known as tables) nearby. And then you either end up trying to balance paper on your hand or leg without shaking. Or you have to prop up against a wall and write vertically. And the writing always ends up being an absolute mess and you can’t help but think “oh god, this person will think my handwriting is horrendous!” 

Having a book makes that situation a little bit easier. They’re just enough of a flat surface to rest on, and it’s a quick fix.

Just as long as you don’t press the pen down too hard, otherwise you’ll dent the book cover. But there’s no reason to write so violently anyway, calm down. 

---

So there you have 10 reasons why you should be carrying a book around with you everywhere you go, even if it’s not *always* necessary (according to some).

Do you carry a book with you at all time? 

Do you carry a physical book, audio or E-reader? (I can only read from physical copies so there’s my answer)

Do any of these reasons fit with your own?

Maybe you have another entirely different reason to add to the list? 

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!