Reading is not just about learning a certain skill.
读书，不光是去学习一门特定的技能。

Nor is it just about learning how to create prettier combination of words.
也不只是为了学习怎样让文字的组合更优美。

Reading is a form of communication which is in a higher rank than mere conversation.
读书，其实是一种比对话更高级的交流方式。

Many successful people have shared the same kind of wisdom that if you want to become a kind of person you should try your best to spend time with this kind of people.
很多成功人士都曾分享这样一个经验：如果你想成为怎样的人，就尽量多和这样的人呆在一起。

If you want to become someone with good manner, you should try to make friends with people who have good manner.
如果你想成为一个有涵养的人，就尽力去交一些有涵养的朋友。

If you want to become someone learned, you should try to stay in touch with learned people.
如果你想成为一个博学的人，就应该去和博学的人交流。

If you want to become someone successful, you surely should communicate with those who are actually successful.
如果你想成为一个成功人士，那当然应该多和真正成功的人交流。

But unfortunately, outstanding people are usually far away from us. If you yourself are not outstanding enough, it's almost impossible for you to reach them.
但遗憾的是，优秀的人通常都很遥远，如果你自己不够优秀，那你几乎不可能触及他们。

And this is what reading is for. A book is the embodiment of a great mind. Through reading you can communicate with those great minds. And this kind of communication is beyond time and space.
这就是读书的意义了，书是优秀灵魂的凝聚，通过读书，你能和这些伟大灵魂进行跨时空的交流。

Reading can bring you out of the cage of your daily life. It shows you new opportunities that you've never seen.
读书能让你跳出生活的桎梏，为你打开前所未有的可能。

For a lot of people, this may be the only method to change their lives.
对于很多人来说，这可能是他们唯一能改变人生的手段。

No matter how busy you are, don't forget to spare some time to do it.
不管你多么忙碌，都别忘了挤出时间来做这件事。

If you don't find yourself time to read, you'll eventually find yourself without any time to live the life that you want to live.
如果你不花时间读书，那你最终将没有时间过你自己的生活。

 

（翻译：能猫）