A few thoughts on the importance of reading

The benefits of reading are undeniable and manifold. Readers learn about the world at large – its history, present, possible futures, different people, situations, cultures and events. Reader are thinkers. Reading builds emotional skills and empathy, improves writing skills, helps you structure your thoughts and express yourself in a clear and understandable way. All this is paramount for human success and happiness, because what else do we have but our thoughts and feelings, our ability to understand them and convey them to others?

Literate teams succeed

Thinking skills, reflection, communication skills and the ability to structure what you learn are also the secrets to successful teams. Teams are made up of thinking individuals who support and trust each other. Individuals have views, ideas and the ability to express and share them with the people around them. Together, they will work on them and perhaps set up a company around the idea. The company's value proposition and relevance is communicated to customers, investors and employees – and lo and behold, we have a growth company on our hands. And this country needs growth companies.

Books for Christmas!

Finland is a vanishingly small linguistic area, and preserving its specificity is vital for the success of society. Literature and other forms of culture help everyone to understand their own lives and the society around them. Therefore, preserving literacy and literature should be on everyone's agenda. Fortunately, we can all make a difference, and we are delighted that the festive season offers an excellent opportunity to do so! If you are planning to remember your loved ones with Christmas gifts, I challenge you to buy books as gifts: fiction written in Finnish, translated literature, non-fiction, poetry, essays, fantasy, children's books, classics; giving the gift of a variety of experiences and the chance to experience something completely new.