Turn the page
After almost a year of having to adjust to the ‘new normal’, there is now some semblance to a time that now seems long ago (albeit with some changes). The foot traffic in markets and malls is back to normal. People are sitting in cafes again. Sipping coffees and reading books. Books. Curious little things, aren’t they? So small yet so powerful. While they may have taken shape in multiple forms over time, starting from being written on papyrus paper (which is how Galileo’s scriptures escaped the church) to the screens of our phones, their need remains timeless.
But why do we gravitate towards books in the manner we do? The answer to this question may be too subjective and vary from individual to individual. What we do know for sure is that imagination is one of the cornerstones of our consciousness, a gateway to the millions of worlds inside our heads, and it is this very integral part that is triggered by books (or reading in general). This is also (in part) an answer to the question ‘Why brands focus on storytelling?’. Our ability to weave a world of our own upon receiving just a few visual cues is remarkable and speaks volumes as to why we love reading books. For some, it’s a peek into reality. For some, it’s an escape.
Since always, reading as an activity has been encouraged by parents and teachers alike. This anchors’ on the principle that ‘What we read influences the way we think, and in essence, makes us who we are.’ But how does it do so? Brief research revealed that reading leads to both, physical and psychological changes, that too for the better. Reading triggers a complex network of circuits and signals that improves over time as the reading ability of an individual matures. The next logical question is, what do these physical improvements lead to? Enter, the psychological benefits. Apart from improving vocabulary, reading has more subtle benefits as well. Genres such as literary fiction in particular, where the reader explores the inner lives of characters have shown to increase the ability to empathize (another cornerstone of our being). Good books are often defined by the structure of their story. A good structure encourages our brain to think in sequence, expanding our span of attention. Long story short, read books.
Favorites of any kind are often considered to be a window into an individual. A favorite book, for example, can give us an insight into how a person looks at the world around them. For example, it is not surprising that Elon Musk recommends reading ‘Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future’ by Peter Thiel, a book about building companies that actually make a difference. Similarly, a read of ‘The Ride of a Lifetime’ by Bob Iger is recommended by Bill Gates. A book by the former CEO of Disney recommended by the founder of Microsoft, a perfect peek into Bill’s psyche.
Let’s have a look at how the core team of Colour Drama looks at the world:
Sulagna Mitra, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini: “This book reflects human reactions. It describes how 2 women react to 2 similar situations in adverse and trying times so differently. It’s the choices we make that define us! At Colour Drama, choice operates on two fronts. Our choices with our products and designs define who we are. At the same time, we believe in providing our customers with a range of products to choose from that they actually relate to.”
Vishwajeet Singh, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: “Nike is a brand we idolize. Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman’s struggles are very relatable to our story. They both created something they were passionate about and we at Colour Drama chase that vision every day too.”
Shankar Bhalla, Made in America by Sam Walton: “It shows how you just need to follow some basic principles diligently in order to build a successful business. We at Colour Drama have our own set of principles, the Beatles Principle (click here).”
Naveen Matthew, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: “The Lost Symbol. gives an incredibly detailed and intricate description of the antagonist and also reveals some secrets of the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and some secret societies/organizations of the world. Attention to detail is what drives our design team to create products our customers love.”
So what are you waiting for? Pick up the closest book and get started. Maybe even check out our bookmark collection :P
