30 Reasons to Read Books
Even if
you have read one good book in your life, you will know what reading gives. It
gives you incomparable pleasure. While there is no doubt about the fact that
reading is a priceless activity, it has been observed that the habit of reading
has declined of late. One of the main causes for this decline is the growth of
technology. However, what most people don’t know is there is so much to benefit
from reading. Here are 30 reasons of reading books:
1
Gives
knowledge
One of
the biggest reasons why we read books is to gain knowledge. Books are a rich
source of information. Reading books on varied subjects imparts information and
increases the depth about the subject as well. Whenever you read a book, you
learn a new information that otherwise would not have known.
2
Improves
your brain
Studies
have shown that reading has strong positive effects on the brain. By staying
mentally stimulated, you can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is
because, keeping your brain active prevents it from losing power. The brain is
a muscle and like other muscles in the body, exercise keeps it strong and
healthy. Similar to solving puzzles, reading books is a great way to exercise
your brain and keep it healthy.
3
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Reduces
stress
Reading
has a positive effect on the body as well. Reading a book can relieve stress
better than taking a walk or listening to music. According to studies who read
more tend to have lower stress lev
4
Improves
memory
Every time you read a book, you
have to remember the setting of the book, the characters, their backgrounds,
their history, their personalities, the sub-plots and so much more. As your
brain learns to remember all this, your memory becomes better. What’s more,
with every new memory you create, you create new pathways and this strengthens
the existing ones.
5
Improves
imagination
The more
you read, the more imaginative you become. Whenever you read a fiction book, it
takes you another world. In the new world, your imagination works at its best
as you try to see things in your own mind.
6
Develops
critical thinking skills
One of
the primary benefits of reading books is its ability to develop critical
thinking skills. For example, reading a mystery novel sharpens your mind.
Critical thinking skills are crucial when it comes to making important day to
day decisions. Reading requires an individual to think and process information
in a way that watching television can’t. The more you read, the deeper your
understanding becomes about what you’re reading and its application.
7
Builds vocabulary
Reading
improves your vocabulary and command on the language. As you read, you come
across new words, idioms, new words, phrases and writing styles.
8
Improves
writing skills
Reading a
well-written book affects your ability to become a better writer. Just like
artists influence others, so do writers. Many successful authors gained their
expertise by reading the works of others. So, if you want to become a better
writer, start by learning from previous masters.
9
Improves
communication skills
Improving
your vocabulary and writing skills goes hand in hand with developing your
communication skills. The more you read and write, the better you communicate.
Increasing your ability to communicate, improves your relationships and even
makes you a better employee or student.
10
Improves
focus and concentration
In our
busy lifestyles, our attention is drawn in different directions each day as we
try to multi-task through each day. For example, you may find yourself dividing
your time between working on a task, chatting with people via Skype, checking
email, keeping an eye on Facebook and interacting with your colleagues. All
this multi-tasking can lead to high stress level and low productivity. When you
read a book, all your attention is focused on what you’re reading. Your eyes
and thoughts are immersed in the details of the story. This improves your
concentration and focus. Read a book at least 20 minutes a day, and you will be
amazed at how much more focused you will be.
11
A fruitful
hobby
Reading
books keep us occupied. It also leads to a fruitful use of time. It not only
helps us get rid of worries, but also diverts our mind from monotony. Books are
excellent sources of recreation. Someone who loves to read can never get bored,
as this is a perfect way to rid of boredom. As books take you to another
different world, you relax and rejuvenate.
12
Cheap
entertainment
Compared
to other forms of entertainment, books are quite cheap. You will never get a
movie ticket for R. 300 to 400. But, with this money, you can buy yourself a
book and be entertained for many hours.
13
Motivation
Life is
full of challenges. As we move through different phases in different, a little
motivation can be of great help. Reading inspirational books about life
experiences can change our lives. Reading a good book, such an autobiography
keeps you encouraged and you also learn tips to help you achieve your personal
goals. Basically, you get inspired to become a better husband, wife, daughter,
son, mother, father or even employee.
14
Improves
health
There are
thousands, if not millions, of great self-help books. Many of these books can
actually help improve your health. Reading such books reduces levels of
depression. People with severe depression can benefit from reading self-help
books. Apart from this, such books offer important tips on exercising, dieting
and other healthy lifestyle tips. All this leads to improved mental and
physical health.
15
Makes you
more empathetic
According
to studies, losing yourself in books, especially fiction, might increase your
empathy. In a study conducted in the Netherlands, researchers showed that
people who were “emotionally transported” by a work of fiction experienced a
boost in empathy. By reading a book, you become part of the story and feel the pain
and other emotions of the characters. This in turn allows your mind to become
more aware of how different things affect other people. Eventually, this
improves your ability to emphasize with other people. So, go ahead and read
that story, a world with more empathetic people would definitely be a better
place!
16
Improves
Skills
Reading
is a fundamental skill builder. For every good course on earth, there is a
matching book to go with it. Books provide important information on various
subjects and topics. The best thing about reading is that you can go deeper
that what learn in a classroom discussion. Whether it’s cooking, dancing, or
even cleaning, you can always improve your skills by reading books.
17
Build
self-esteem
By
reading many books, you communicate better and become more informed on various
areas of life. All this translates into a higher self-esteem. Since you have
confidence in yourself and your ability to deliver, you become more productive
and overall a much better person.
18
Portable entertainment
Books are
portable and light in weight. They are not like bulky computers and games that
take too much space. With a book, you can pack it in your handbag and easily
carry it everywhere. You can read anywhere, in a plane as you travel, in your
bed before you sleep, under a shade as you relax, or even during your holiday.
19
Helps you
sleep better
Poor
sleep leads to low productivity. This is why so many experts recommend that you
establish regular de-stressing routine before you sleep to help calm your mind
and therefore sleep better. Reading a book is one of the best ways to calm
yourself before you go to bed. Instead of watching television or spending too
much time on your smartphone while in bed, take some time to read. The bright
lights from the electronic devices will only affect your sleep. On the other
hand, a book will help you sleep better.
20
Learn about
another world
The world
of fiction allows you to travel to another world, where everything is
different. By reading books, you get a glimpse of other cultures and places.
Books expand your horizons, letting you see other countries, other people and
so many other things you have never seen or imagined. It’s the perfect way to
visit a strange country in your mind.
21
Socialization
We can
always share whatever we have read with our family, friends and colleagues. All
this increases our ability to socialize. Humans are social beings and in the
world of smartphones, we are losing our ability to socialize. However, reading
had led to the formation of book clubs and other forums where we get a chance
to share and interact with others.
22
Improves
creativity
The
biggest difference between reading and watching television is that reading
gives you the scope to unleash your creativity. The more you read, the more you
learn new things. New thoughts always stretch our minds to rediscover life in
new and better ways. We start to see the world in a different way and this way
we find new creative solutions.
23
Learn at your
own pace
Another
benefit of reading a book is that you learn at your own pace. Since you have
the book all the time, you can always go back to a section you feel you don’t
understand. You can re-read a chapter as many times as you wish, without worry
that you will miss out a section. If it’s a self-help book, you can tackle one
issue at a time. Once you handle one problem, then you can move to the next
issue whenever you feel you’re ready. Everything is done at your own pace and
most importantly, your mind is free to interpret things the way you feel.
24
Lots of
choices to choose from
There are
so many great books to read that you will never finish them all in a lifetime.
Books have been written for centuries, right now, someone is writing a book,
and in the future, books will still be written. Whether you’re looking for
something to inspire you, something to make you laugh, romance or even gaining
a new skill, there are countless books for that. All you need is to take some
time and pick which one to read. There will never be a shortage of great books.
25
Improves
morals
Books
help us better discern good ideas from bad ideas. Reading a book allows us to
learn about different approaches to life and the problems we face. By doing
this, you get an opportunity to discern what has worked in the past and what
has not worked. Basically, you learn to make better decisions in life.
26
Learn about
your history
History
plays an important role is who we are today. By reading books, we get a better
understanding of the past and how it continues to affect us. With books, you
get a chance to learn about your country, family and the world in general. It’s
a great way to revisit your past and appreciate the present.
27
Save money
Apart
from being inexpensive, you will also save a lot of money by reading books. Books
don’t require electricity, neither do they need any form of maintenance. When
you read a book on a certain skill, such as cooking, woodwork, or simple DIY
tasks, you save yourself the money you would have used to hire a contractor.
You not only learn new skills, but also save yourself a lot of expenses.
28
No side
effects of the digital world
Spending
too much time watching television or playing video games can affect your eye
health in the long run. On the other hand, books are safe and easy. No one has
ever gone blind from reading too many books. There are no known side effects or
dangers of reading great books. All there is are benefits.
29
Makes you
smarter
With so
much to learn from books, people who read regularly tend to be smarter than
those who don’t. They tend to have an open mind and are more aware of their
surroundings.
30
Books are
better than movies
So many
movies have been adapted from books. But, if you read a book and then watch its
movie, you will agree that the book is 100 times better than the movie.
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