It’s now over twenty years since parents first started raiding the dressing up box, getting creative with make-up, or making a late-night, last-minute, dash to the supermarket to dress up their kids in honour of World Book Day.
Since 1995, the event has gone from strength to strength, bringing the magical world of books into the public consciousness.
What is perhaps less well known is National Read A Book Day which takes place on 6 September. This annual event invites us all to grab a book we might enjoy and spend the day reading with the idea that you share it with the world.
Here within the University of Bradford walls, you may be surprised to discover that many of our lecturers are published authors.
It was Yorkshireman Alan Bennett, an English Playwright, who said “A book is a device to ignite the imagination” and that’s what your time at University should be too, as it’s much like reading a book; you start at the beginning, not knowing what you will discover, in the middle you get really stuck in and by the end, you’ve enjoyed it that much you don’t want it to end. (That’s the point at which you decide to stay in Bradford and do your Masters’ course).
From politics and history, to music and media, right through technology and engineering, the work of our published academics covers many areas.
Those of a musical persuasion may delve into the world of John, Paul, George and Ringo through the pages of “The Beatles, or The White Album” written by Mark Goodall a lecturer in the School of Media, Design and Technology. Mark’s book argues that this is not only the best Beatles’ record, but one of the greatest LP recordings of all time.
With conflicts raging around the world, on a seemingly daily basis, the role of how The League of Nations – the forerunner to today’s United Nations – could have stopped World War 2, is discussed in Martyn Housden’s book The League of Nations and the Organization of Peace.
It’s not just books either, Professor of Psychology, Abigail Locke, has guest edited a special edition of the quarterly journal Feminism & Psychology, entitled Feminism and Social Media.
This issue brings together female academics from across the world to look at how the rise of social media has manifested itself as both a threat and an opportunity in the cause of gender equality. Combining their own research, findings and arguments, they demonstrate how social media can be used as a force for resistance and social change, with specific discussion around the #metoo movement.
There is a world of books out there waiting to be discovered, so why not use this year’s Read A Book Day as your inspiration. As J K Rowling, a woman whose life was quite literally changed completely through the power of books, said: “Read a lot. Reading really helps. Read anything you can get your hand on.”
And that’s a mantra that can be applied to life – not just your time at university.
We have places available on some of our courses starting this September. Get in touch to see how we can help.
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