Reading is one of the most beneficial habits that should be cultivated for our personal growth, intellectual development, and overall enrichment of life. It is an activity that involves brain function. Just think for a moment—what would happen to the body if one did nothing but sit for an extended period? Inevitably, that person might become ill.
Just as lack of physical exercise can lead to health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, a lack of mental stimulation can increase the risk of cognitive decline, including conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to doctors, the cause of many illnesses is lack of physical exercises. For instance, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiac problems are often caused by insufficient exercise. Similarly, diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia can result from a lack of mental stimulation.
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, puzzles, and strategy games such as chess, helps keep the brain healthy and active. These activities can slow down the progression of cognitive decline by exercising the brain. Reading, in particular, offers a unique combination of relaxation and mental exercise, making it an ideal activity for maintaining cognitive health and enhancing our ability to focus, solve problems, and manage daily stress.
Sometimes, we become stressed due to the heavy workload in our daily lives. This is normal, but a good novel or book can significantly reduce stress by diverting our attention away from tension. Reading has also been found to be beneficial for those experiencing depressive conditions.
There is no better way to gain knowledge than through reading. People who have become great literati are those who have read extensively. Thus, it is vital to read a lot if we want to acquire proficiency in any subject. Everything you read—whether a book, novel, or article—can fill your head with new bits of information and knowledge.
Expanding vocabulary
Language learners, in particular, should read a lot to become accustomed to the language(s) they are learning. Through wide reading, one can improve vocabulary. Each time we read a new book, we encounter new terms and phrases that enrich our vocabulary.
To stay informed about the latest happenings around the globe, it is essential to read newspapers daily. Though we may lose everything in life, we never lose the knowledge gained through reading, and it can never be stolen by anyone.
Reading books also helps boost our memory by increasing brain power. It enhances our analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. If you’ve read detective or mystery novels, you’ve seen how those mysteries are solved. A reader develops similar skills, which can be useful when analysing something difficult. When you read a book, you immerse yourself in it, and all other concerns fade away. It’s like practising meditation. It significantly improves your focus. This improved focus can help you manage your daily affairs more effectively.
We have heard the saying, “Writing comes from reading.” What does this mean? Writers are people who read a great deal, which is how they write so efficiently. That’s the secret of their writing skills. Exposure to well-written work has a certain effect on one’s own writing. We can study the writing styles of other competent writers, which helps improve our own writing. Any writer learns to craft prose by reading others’ work, acquiring the skills for their own writing. So, it is crucial to read as much as possible to learn more. Indeed, this goes hand-in-hand with expanding one’s vocabulary through wide reading.
Peace and tranquility are what we often seek most. We like to escape the modern-day hustle and bustle, even if just for a moment. A monastery or any religious place often has a calm atmosphere that brings us spiritual serenity. Similarly, reading a good book brings inner peace to a troubled mind and helps us relax. It is said that reading spiritual texts can even lower blood pressure and bring a deep sense of calm. Some self-help books have also been proven helpful for those suffering from certain mental and mood disorders.
A study conducted some time ago with readers and non-readers has revealed that those who read more tend to live longer than those who do not. So, it is clear that reading has a powerful effect on a person’s life, and without reading, no man is complete, as the saying goes: ‘Reading maketh a full man.’
There are books of various kinds on numerous subjects. While we cannot read them all, we should read those known as great books that are regarded as masterpieces because they are widely read by millions of book lovers around the world.
Books and readership
Though there are hundreds of thousands of books available today, a book’s success often depends on its readership. If a large number of readers prefer a book, it becomes world-famous. The same principle applies to the success of any article published in newspapers; it too depends on its readership.
We read books or articles written by learned professionals, but we also read works by ordinary writers. Interestingly, many of the great books we read today were written by people who were not highly educated but were instead philosophers. For example, do you think that great writers such as Shakespeare and Charles Dickens held PhDs? Not at all. They were ordinary men who became world-famous due to their creative literary works.
In this technologically advanced era, books and other materials are now available in digital forms. If we need a book, we can find it online in PDF format. The internet is a marvelous library, offering access to countless books that can be downloaded with ease. All you need is a good internet connection and a portable device like an iPad, tablet, or smartphone. Some libraries even offer the option to obtain documents in digital formats.
Many great books are now available in audio form, known as audiobooks. If you cannot physically read a book, someone else reads it for you. You can listen to the entire book in your free time. Many websites offer audio recordings of famous fiction and non-fiction books along with their texts. Their services are absolutely free. These websites allow us to download both audio recordings and texts of books. ‘Kindle’ is such a popular audiobook provider on the internet that offers access to hundreds of audiobooks. Many books that are not available in bookstores can easily be found and downloaded from these sites.
We have been reading books printed on paper so far, but now we can read any downloaded material on the screen of a computer or other devices. However, on-screen reading can present some difficulties. Constant exposure to screen light, for instance, may result in sleep delays and some discomfort to the eyes. Therefore, reading books with a large number of pages online can be a bit challenging. Despite this, it remains the easiest and cheapest way to access books in this day and age.
