Read Across America: Americans Must Build a New Reading Frontier

By Michael Hickman, author of the book Me, Watch TV?

Many adults and parents are leading the way in a crucial area in child development: reading. Teachers across America are right there with them in building students’ reading skills and levels. Children’s librarians and people reading to children are playing a dual role in child development. You may find them reading in libraries, book stores, coffee shops, kids clubs and other places across America, increasing literacy efforts as kids are held captive by the spoken word, illustrations and fun associated with this group activity. However, it would behoove parents to continue to help their babies stay ahead of the race to learn how to read and start or re-ignite the concept to read for production.

As a library manager in the 1990’s, my experiences proved that there needs to be a transparent shift in the reading/bookstore/library/school landscape. The phonics way of learning to read gave way to the whole language method way of learning to read. Today, accelerated reading and reading books that value word count and degrees of difficulty are in vogue. These strategies and methods have found footing in the education of children and school systems in America. All these methods have contributed to reading success in this country. With those in mind, a recent snapshot in a national newspaper suggested that the time is near, if not now, to consider a new reading frontier.

In a USA TODAY Snapshot dated Tuesday, January 4, 2011, the newspaper illustrated something that appear to be a waving flag. It signaled that the act of reading was again on the radar but positioned as a fading past time activity. The headline stated: “Reading for fun loses value as kids age.” The statistics compiled by Scholastic 2010 Kids and Family Report illustrated the following:
• Sixty-three percent of children between the ages of 6-8 value reading books not for school; 37% percent of children value a past time other than reading.
• Fifty-two percent of children between the ages of 9-11 value reading books not for school; 48% percent of children value a past time other than reading.
• Forty-nine percent of children between the ages of 12-14 value reading books not for school; 51% percent of children value a past time other than reading.
• Thirty nine percent of children between the ages of 15-17 value reading books not for school; 61% percent of children value a past time other than reading.

Students are reading less. We should not be surprised by this. School-aged children have options. There are many things youth can do. They can read more if they desire to do it. My position is that students, parents and guardians of the education system should embrace this: as school age children grow older, between the ages of 12 and 17, they should add reading for production as a component to the school climate.

Reading for production represents the new frontier. When a budding pre-teen and teenager begin reading for production, the idea is they will read books that interest them. Books about people, hobbies and special interests- lots of them fall in this production category. Resources for these types of books should be in the budget.

Can reading for production and reading for sport/fun exist together? Some parents and guardians are not bothered by the numbers presented in the chart. Their children are embracing and balancing reading assignments. They are making the necessary grades. They are reading for sport (fun), reading books that fall into the entertainment and fun categories. Also, they are reading for production. This category includes any books aimed to help them pass tests and complete school assignments. Some kids pick up this desire to read from others; and some learn the value on their own. But the question remains: should we be concerned that children lose interest in reading as they grow older?

For me the snap shot in the USA Today newspaper was waving like a flag on a good day in Chicago. More to the point, sometime after reviewing the chart on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, I drew one conclusion: Read-up America!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Who is the man that would risk his neck for his fellow man? What would you do when the weight of the world is on your back? Ayn Rand's book answers that question using the railroad industry as he primary business and industrialist like Hank Reardon, Dagny Taggart and Francisco d'Anconia. I found the theme, characters and moments of compelling oratorical dialogue stupendous. There must be reason why this book is present today. Many readers will want to add this book to their collection. It's a must read for new managers and some voracious readers!

The Wall Street Journal guide to management by Alan Murray

The WSJ Guide to Management by Alan Murray provided some very good information. I enjoyed reading about the value of strategy versus execution. Superbowl viewers will see the concepts applied on Sunday. The idea of managers needing to be leaders too may become, if not already, today's axiom. This book should be read by new managers and those who are building a collection of management books.

How the Mighty Fall and why some companies never give in by Jim Collins

I wanted to read this book by Jim Collins, "How the Mighty Fall." I read "Good to Great" and was so intrigued by it that I felt compelled to pick up a book that describes how companies fall. I get how professional sports franchise like the Indianapolis Colts get to become king of the hill. I understand how an organization like the Baltimore Orioles can fall from glory. Two great examples for me. What "How the Mighty Fall" by Jim Collins told me how companies get to the top and how some companies fall so far down and dissolve, disappear, KaPoof!

The demise of a profitable organization according to Jim Collins happens in stages. Those stages are:

*Arrogance based on success
*More, more, more expansion without discipline
*Failure to understand the risk
*Grasping for salvation
*Surrender to Kapoof or irrelevance

After reading this book, I felt the stages could apply to small companies as well as major corporations. But I will let the readers decide on this: One, do the stages described in the book transcend the human experiences? Are they limited to business? Two, could this book become one of the top 100 business books?

Reflections for Managers: a Collection of Wisdom & Inspiration from the World’s Best Managers by Bruce Hyland

Many readers aspiring to become managers or working in management might find the book by Bruce Hyland and Merle Yost useful and helpful. It can be read straight thru for enthusiastic managers with a need to feed their desire to effectively manage a department or team. I can see others who want to fortify a position in a work related scenario to browse this book. The topical layout fits.

I like the book for both purposes. Under the Heading the “Big Picture” there is a phrase I have experienced. “You won’t always win” is one I favor. I lost a person high on my list of people to hire to another agency. Although that candidate we lost learning curve was longer than the one we hired, we wanted that candidate. Along with the Big Picture as a major category, I think readers would like these:

The Day-to-Day
Image
Team Building
Sensitivity
Image
Technique
Leadership
Company Politics

Those headings and the brief text that follow them make this book an interesting read.

The Truth About Managing Your Career and Nothing But the Truth by Dr. Karen Otazo

This could be a popular book among people looking to enhance their careers. It gives readers 60 rules that if applied or consulted from time to time increases their chances of employment plans and success on the job.

Dr. Otazo is on to something. She labels her rules as "truths." If they are, the rules should be applied, practiced. What made this book a gripping read is the first truth in managing the career: "Hitting the ground running can get you into trouble." She goes on to briefly explain it and provides an example. I can agree with this axiom. Just like I agree with truth number 53: "Likeability Means Leverage." There is value in being liked for the work employees put forth. Good work results lead to successful days and careers. I can see the wisdom in Truth 9: Kissing the ring. This simple truth refers to respecting the chain of command. Even the most talented employee, the breadwinner, must find the wisdom to respect the chain of command and communicate strategically.

The truths presented in the book are simple with brief explanations. If employees are looking for career direction or need guidance, Dr. Otazo's book is a good book to read.

Loops the Seven Keys to Small Business Success by Mike Chaet

Employees in small businesses or operations, public or private, would get something from the book Loops. Using the popular storytelling/parable writing style, the authors Mike Chaet and Stephen Lundin share with readers the essentials to workplace success. Those elements are:

• Manage your experience zones
• Build a winning culture with vision moments
• Help execute fundamentals with a Loops Group
• Standardize every process
• Innovate constantly
• Live in the real world
• Lead by example

As I was reading this book, I thought about the elements in workplaces. They appear to have solid links to profits in for profit businesses and goodwill in non-profit organizations such as libraries. If a business does not innovate, for example, profits either slow down or disappear. If people do not value your service, they will resort to alternatives. I see what the authors points of view and I am buying it.

If mastering your work environment is crucial, this is a good, quick book to read.