Children come into the world breathing out question marks but only some retain the habits of exploring, learning, and discovering, as they grow older. Those who do so tend to be smarter, more creative, and more successful. So why are many of us allowing our curiosity to wane?
A partial answer lies in how the Internet, while providing easy access to information, actually hurts the growth of curiosity. True curiosity is the sustained quest for understanding and begets insight and innovation, which is actually at risk in a wired world.
Reading nurtures a child’s curiosity. Curiosity is our greatest search engine and research has shown that curiosity is correlated with creativity, intelligence, improved learning and memory, and problem solving.
Reading feed curiosity—the quest to know and understand. Curiosity is the human capacity to be deeply fascinated. The most productive mind is the one most open to indulging the impulse to daydream, to ponder, and to let your imagination take hold. Reading feeds the appetite for new ideas, beckoning readers to wander with a keen alertness.
Learning happens when curiosity is ignited. Maybe a book’s most important attribute is the degree it encourages curiosity—to know more, to understand more, to feel more.
Curiosity is how we acquire knowledge and it reminds us we are alive.
Curiosity isn’t a gift that keeps on giving. It is a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise and a habit that parents, schools and workplaces need to nurture.
“I have no special talents,” said Albert Einstein. “I am only passionately curious.”
