The title isn't my own creation; it’s borrowed from a book written by a publisher—I’m sorry, I can’t recall whose book, as I merely noticed it while browsing for something to read. Besides, I have a terrible memory—names and terms slip away as soon as I encounter them.

Still, I often think of the words in that title, and every time, they resonate deeply with me. I couldn’t agree more. In translation, the essence might be: reading gives you the best life; without it, life can hardly become its best.

I’ve been teasingly called a "bookworm" before. In Chinese, this isn’t exactly a flattering label. It used to bother me, but later I realized it fits me well enough. I’m not one of those who read all day, unless a book utterly captivates me. My reading speed (in Chinese) is astonishing—I truly do skim ten lines at a glance. So when a book grips me, I might finish it in two days. But if a book lingers in my hands for more than a week without being completed, unless interrupted by something unexpected, it’s usually a sign that it didn’t quite capture me.

There are countless people who share deep sentiments about reading. An ancient Chinese saying goes: “In books, you’ll find beauties and treasures,” implying that books hold countless riches, including wealth and wonder. Another phrase, “Reading changes the way you walk,” while I haven’t Googled its origin, I interpret as meaning that books can transform your way of living and thinking. One recent insight I heard really struck me: when you read, you’re actually seeing the world through the author’s eyes. How profound! Think about it—we each only have one pair of eyes, only able to see the world within our limited gaze, like the parable of the blind men and the elephant. But through reading, we can borrow countless eyes to view the world from entirely different perspectives. Just imagining this gives me chills of excitement.

Perhaps that’s why I love reading, just as I love traveling—because I refuse to confine myself to my small world. As that viral quote goes, “The world is so big, I want to go see it.” Even in middle school, I loved gazing at world maps in bookstores, though I was mocked by a classmate who said, “You’ll never visit these places, what’s the point of looking?” But he was wrong. Thirty years later, I’ve lived on the other side of the world, traveled through seven or eight countries, and I’ll continue expanding my world map with my children.

It’s this desire to explore the world beyond that fuels my love for reading. And reading, in turn, brings me closer to grasping the full scope of life. You might ask, “Why bother understanding the world when everyday life is already overwhelming enough?” Exactly—life feels overwhelming because you haven’t ventured beyond it. You don’t know what life truly looks like. If you did, you’d have an entirely different perspective on your daily struggles. It’s like the famous saying, “We fail to see the true face of Mount Lushan because we are lost in its midst.” By misunderstanding life, you miss out on the best version of today.