Books have always been an important part of my life, says Othmar Karas, Vice-President of the European Parliament

Books have always been an important part of my life, whether I was a pupil in elementary school in Ybbs, a student at the University of Vienna or Vice-President of the European Parliament in Brussels, says Othmar Karas. Sometimes it has been necessary to read, for instance to prepare for a difficult exam or to appraise a challenging draft law, but most of the time I did and still do it just out of pleasure, added Mr Karas.

In my youth, books made me dream of travelling around, experiencing new cultures, getting to know new people. Now, when I am travelling through the world due to my job, books help me to relax after a hard day and to escape from daily life. I enjoy the calming effect of words, the intoxicating force of text passages but also the exploration of new worlds. Books can create emotions, they can make us happy, sad or angry, they can inspire us, but most important, they can make us feel home, says Mr Karas, Vice-President of the European Parliament.