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Writer's pictureAbi Burt

Read the End First

Reading the end of the book first can be a prove favorable to many readers. Photo by Abi Burt

In this day and age, reading may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Especially since it reminds students of school, most people do not like picking up a book. However, if one enjoys reading and experiencing the magic of books, then consider reading the end of the book first. Most people agree that reading the end before starting a book first sounds crazy, but readers benefit tremendously by doing so.


First of all, most people enjoy happy endings. In fact, according to a poll, based on students' opinions at Apex Friendship High School, the majority of people questioned agreed that reading a book with a happy ending can be more enjoyable, satisfying, and fulfilling. The most popular example of this can be romance books. Most times romance involves two people who go through countless obstacles in their path in order to be happy together. What if after reading all four hundred pages of the book, only to realize that the couple doesn’t end up together? Talk about a waste of time. Smart people don’t want to spend a good amount of time witnessing the build up of a relationship, only for it to not happen in the end. Another example could be death; which can be inevitable in some books - especially if it involves murder mysteries. Realistically, few want to see the main characters die after following them through the adventure that eventually caused or contributed to their demise.


Another reason to be intelligent and read the end first typically pertains to mystery books. When reading a mystery book, most people look for clues or signs along with the character to help solve the case. If they read the last chapter first, then readers would know what clues to look for instead of overlooking them. According to UC San Diego physiology department after conducting a study, the people they interviewed actually enjoyed reading the last few chapters before attempting the beginning. The study revealed that, “Once you know how it turns out, it's cognitively easier – you're more comfortable processing the information – and can focus on a deeper understanding of the story.”


Most teenagers and young adults have a lot of weird and unexplained feelings; because of that, some students don’t want any more misery or complications in their lives. The results of a study done by University of Sussex reveals that reading the end of a book relieves stress by 68%. A fun, light, and fluffy read not only reduces stress, but also prevents any unwanted emotions and strong feelings. People have different preferences and interpretations of what they like to read, but regardless of the genre, people benefit in more ways than one from not only reading, but from reading the end of the book first.


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