we may say with, certainty that the more one reads, the better one understands; and that the better one understands, the more one is inclined to read. in other words, from reading comes understanding, and from understanding comes more reading. the reading habit is actually cultivated by reading itself.
now let us discuss the question of what to read. there are books on various subjects―history, literature, philosophy, science, fine arts, etc. when you are to choose from among a vast number of subjects the best books to read, you will feel quite at sea. i therefore suggest that, before you proceed to read any book, you try to find out what others have done before you, that is read the results of other people's labour first. usually newspapers or magazines are always your convenient guide to the world of best writings.
another problem is how to read. here, i would offer two suggestions: concentration and reflection. you cannot well understand what is said in books unless you concentrate your mind on what you read. and then you must think over what you have read. this is reflection which helps to summarize your reading. to a great extent, concentration and reflection are interdependent.
a reading habit thus formed will prove valuable to you. whenever you have spare time, you will resort not to places of pleasure, but to the bookshelves, you will not feel lonesome when you are alone, because you can see all kinds of characters moving and acting on the pages, and you can hear all kinds of good counsel. in the long run, your imaginative power will be increased, your esthetic sensibility heightened, your vocabulary enlarged, and finally your ability of writing tremendously improved.