This document tells the story of twin boys Lance and Patrick who were separated after being adopted. Lance had a happy life with loving adoptive parents while Patrick suffered abuse from multiple adoptive families and endured many hardships on the streets including human trafficking before finally finding a loving home at age 11. The document argues that Patrick would be considered wiser due to his greater life experiences, even if they were negative, and that reading can provide knowledge and wisdom by allowing people to experience other lives and places through stories.

1. This is a story of two twin boys . . .
Lance and Patrick

2. They lived in an orphanage.

3. Lance was adopted by a nice couple.

4. Lance had a nice room.

5. He had many pleasant birthdays.

6. Lance had fun friends.

7. He attended a good school.

8. Lance made good grades.

9. And his parents praised his
school efforts.

10. Overall, Lance has had a typical
happy life. His twelfth birthday is
today, and he is happy.

11. His brother Patrick was also adopted
by a nice couple.

12. Well . . . they were nice at first.
The abuse started when he was three
years old, and it lasted for two years.

13. Eventually, the state stepped in and
returned Patrick to the orphanage.

14. At age six, Patrick was adopted by
another couple.

15. This time, the abuse started immediately.

16. They did celebrate his birthday.

17. And drink to his good grades.

18. But Patrick’s new parents spent
much of their time running an illegal
business.

19. Eventually, they went out of business.

20. Patrick watched the police gun down
his second set of parents, who
refused to go quietly.
He was eight years old.

21. Losing trust in orphanages, Patrick
escaped to the streets at the age of
nine.

22. He learned to survive muggings.

23. He learned to survive gang wars.

24. He learned to avoid starvation.

25. He became familiar with the darker
sides of humanity.

26. Within a year on the streets, he was
abducted by a group of human
traffickers.

27. The traffickers had a foreign buyer
who wanted a ten-year-old boy.

28. After six months in another country,
Patrick was saved by his captor’s
nosey neighbor. She placed an
anonymous phone call to the police,
voicing her suspicions.

29. After treating Patrick’s injuries,
authorities placed him on a plane to
his own country.

30. After reaching his homeland, the
plane crashed in a wilderness.
Patrick was the only survivor.

31. For several months, Patrick lived in
the wild, always hoping to be
rescued.

32. He learned to find food.

33. He learned not to be food.

34. He learned to stay warm.

35. He learned to stay alert.

36. Eventually, he was rescued.

37. And at the age of eleven, he discovered
loving parents.

38. Overall, Patrick has had a trying life,
but his twelfth birthday is today, and
he is happy.

39. The End

40. Question:
Which of the two boys would you
say is wiser?

41. Popular answer:
Patrick
Wisdom comes with knowledge and experience, even
if said wisdom is never used. Patrick certainly
experienced more than Lance.

42. Sci-fi Question:
If a mad scientist somehow swapped the
boys’ memories, who would be wiser?

43. Popular answer:
Lance
Even though Lance never experienced any of Patrick’s
ordeals personally, he would remember them as if they
were his own. On the other hand, Patrick would simply
wonder where his scars came from.)

44. In other words, if we could somehow place other
people’s knowledge and experiences inside our
brains, we would become smarter and wiser.

45. If we understand this, we should also understand
why readers are typically smarter and wiser than
nonreaders.

46. When we read, we can subject ourselves to
anything within the safety of our home.

47. When we read, we can visit anyplace without
ever leaving a chair. In most cases, we’d know
more about the place than the people who
actually live there.

48. When we read, we can walk a mile in other
people’s shoes without untying our own laces.

49. When we read, we can experience falling in
love without ever dating.

50. When we read, we can experience victory and
defeat without sweating.

51. We can live in more than just our family.

52. We can attend more than just our school.

53. Myth:
“I don’t need to read because I
already know how to read.”

54. “I don’t need to exercise because
I already know how to exercise.”
Similar Myth:

55. Reading is to the mind what
exercise is to the body.

56. Another Myth:
“I’m too busy to exercise or read.”

57. “I’m so busy that I can’t afford not to
exercise.” —Zig Ziglar (in his sixties)
In other words, the more we require from our mind
and body, the more fit our mind and body have to be.

58. This is similar to why a pizza deliverer
needs more frequent tune-ups.

59. We can start the journey toward a
stronger, sharper, and wiser mind today.

60. But we should pace ourselves.

61. If we haven’t read in a while, we
shouldn’t start with a marathon.

62. We should start with books on our skill level
and interest, no matter what that may be.

63. In time, we’ll grow stronger and faster,
and reading will cease to be the
“exercise” it used to be.

64. We have time to exercise if we make it a
part of our lives.
 Take the stairs. (It’s an easy way to elevate your fitness.)
 Speed walk. (We’re pressed for time, right?)
 Do jumping jacks. (Jump into a healthier lifestyle.)
 Do squats and lunges. (Hold those poses in the shower.)
 Do push ups. (It doesn’t take long. “Drop and give me 20!”)
Note: There’s no equipment required because our
body is all we need, and it’s always with us.

65. So we should keep a book with us wherever we
go, and be amazed at the reading opportunities.
 Waiting at the doctor’s office
 Waiting for our car to be serviced
 Waiting for a train to go by
 Waiting for our turn in line
 Waiting for our professor to arrive
 Waiting for our ride to show
 Waiting for an operator who has us on hold
 Waiting for TV commercials to end
 Waiting for a pot to boil
 Waiting to fall asleep at night

66. So let’s get those pages turning!
The time to become an avid reader was yesterday. And
remember, our excuses are myths.