“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” –Maya Angelou

Having a dearth of books in his childhood home, Abraham Lincoln often journeyed many miles to obtain various volumes. In her incredible book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of a time when young Abe had to work in a neighbor’s field for days to repay him for accidentally damaging a book on George Washington.

The difficulties Abe endured to obtain books are generally viewed as a symptom of his inherent love for literature. However, these difficulties may actually be responsible for fueling this love.

Cognitive dissonance theory holds that we value things more if we had to work for them. We like to think of ourselves as smart people. So if we worked hard for something then that thing must be awesome because only an idiot would demean himself for something lame.

In today’s quote, Angelou says any book that makes a child love reading is good. But maybe what the child has to do in order to obtain the book is as important as the content. Children may be better off if we make them pay for their own books and violin lessons and baseball cleats, or at least do chores to “earn” these things.

What is important to you today? Was it handed to you or did you have to work for it?

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