Reading is one of the world's lost arts.  In the past, before we had television, reading was one of the most popular activities for people of all ages.  Nowadays, kids prefer playing video games, watching television, or surfing the internet.  It's quite a shame, since reading is one of the most productive ways to spend one's time.

    阅读是不衰的艺术，老少皆宜，一本书随行，可以畅游世界。在电视之前， 阅读是人们钟爱的活动。如今，孩子们爱玩电脑游戏，看电视，上网，相对于阅读这个最有用的生活方式来说，当今技术带来方便的同时，似乎也在无声地剥夺美好的最初。

    People read all throughout their lives.  Preschoolers learn their ABCs through picture books.  Primary school children learn their first stories in the form of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as The Pied Piper, Goldilocks and the Three Bears,Hansel and Gretel, and The Tortoise and the Hare.  Through those books, they improve their literary skills and learn important morals as well.  In high school, students turn to more advanced material, and in their English class may read classic novels such as The Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse 5, The Great Gatsby, and  A Farewell to Arms.  In college even if language is not one's major, one will still continue to be reading, though the reading may not be as fun as reading fictional novels.  Every subject including medicine, engineering, science, or finance requires the student to read textbooks to learn.  Even college graduates who are working at jobs must continue to read to train for their job, or to learn information and do research.

    人们终生阅读，乐此不彼。小孩子通过画书学会了ABC,小学生从童话故事里读到属于他们自己的第一个故事，也开始梦想书中神话一般的仙境。到了中学，阅读开始拓宽，可以探寻自然科学和社会科学的方面，哪怕是小说等。到了大学，不仅要通过阅读去接近专业知识，还要继续阅读不同的专业，以书写论文，毕业后为了工作成就，也要大量阅读，扩充知识面，即使我们的专业不是语言，但通过阅读，我们都成长为语言运用的高手。

    Every book is a teacher.  The best part about these teachers is that you can choose them yourself.  You can choose their subject matter, style, length, and pace.  Reading, like any other skill, improves with practice.  The more you read the better and faster you do it.  Reading experts can use speed-reading techniques to read at breakneck paces.

    每本书都是一位导师，这种导师最好的地方是，你可以选择他。你可以选择他的题材，风格，内容和长度等。阅读丰富的人，会养成很快的阅读习惯，在书海里泛舟，变得高效，敏锐，虽然一目十行，精彩的亮点总不会错过。

    In a competitive society, it is important to stay on top of information and trends.  To find out about what's going on in the world you must read the news.  In the past this involved reading a newspaper, but now the Internet abounds with news sources.  To keep up to date with trends, one can subscribe to magazines and periodicals.

    在信息时代，竞争激烈，要掌握全面的咨询才能在职场稳操胜券，你可以看杂志，期刊，报纸，现在网络信息为阅读提供了全新的效率和方式。

    For the working class, who are struggling to climb the career ladder, reading just might be the ticket to ascending more efficiently.  The reason for this is that knowledge is power.  In order to become a better employee and please your boss, you must be armed with more skills and knowledge.  If you are interested in being the leader, you must make sure that you know about the latest technology and techniques involved in doing business.

    对工薪阶层，在职场爬梯，阅读是升职加薪的通行证，因为知识就是力量，为了获得老板的重用，你必须有全面丰富的知识，才有好的工作能力和知识底蕴。你要想成为领导，更要知道最近的科技进展和商业运作的模式。

    These days, it's expensive to travel.  For those who cannot afford the cost of airfare and lodging, a cheap alternative is to read a fantasy novel or a novel set in an exotic location.  Take a vacation in your mind.

    当今的旅行是人们热衷的话题，但是旅费也很昂贵，如果你有想象力，取一本爱看的书，在自己的阳台上，可以周游世界，津津有味的阅读，是对大千世界的回望和热爱。

    It seems that every generation gets busier.  In our hectic lives we need some enrichment for our minds or we will turn into mindless zombies.  If you're feeling like life's got you down, pick up a self-help book such as Chicken Soup for the Soul and it may help you sleep like a baby again.

    繁忙的生活，如果不给心灵营养和慰藉，生活会生硬，人会变得僵直而缺乏趣味。如果你为工作而变成了僵尸一样的机器，我建议你读一下"心灵的鸡汤",晚上的睡眠一定会让你享受久违的香甜。

    We are a species that needs mental stimulation. If you stop reading, you deprive yourself of a God-given privilege.

    人类的精神需求是必然，如果你不阅读，或者停下来阅读，就自动剥夺了自己，那天赋的美好权利。行动起来，现在开始让我们捧起书本，因为阅读是亘古不变的时尚！