We’ve all picked up a good book and haven’t been able to put it back down it is completed. Books are cultural, historical things passed down from generation to generation that are capable of engaging a reader until the very end. But in recent times, television, internet and the technological revolution have led to a decline in reading. It’s simply easier to watch a movie or a TV show than to sit down and pick up a book because the latter is too time consuming. Some even consider it “tedious.”  Yet reading is perhaps fundamental to mental and social development.

Reading has been proven to be highly mentally stimulating. Regardless of whether fiction or nonfiction, reading causes the reader to think about the story, to think about how the author has used literature to describe the plot that surrounds the book, including descriptions of places, people, and things that create a very vivid image. These images can stimulate, mentally, readers to imagine the scenario unfolding inside their heads. But not just that, studies have also proven that reading, and therefore being mentally stimulated, can lead to a lesser risk of having Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Having a stimulated brain also leads to less stress and decreases the chance of depression. It takes the mind away from the troubles a reader may be having and helps them focus on the reading material, even if it’s just for the time being. 

Reading a lot is also responsible for a higher memory power. Constantly reading, going over the same characters and events, causes an increased memory as the reader is constantly having to recall what these characters’ stories are, and how they transcribe their history into the events that are to unfold. People who read frequently are shown to have higher memory power during events that occur in their daily lives. Even biologically, each new experience, and thus every new book read, creates a different pathway to the brain that bolsters existing ones which aids in the development of stronger short and long term memories.

By also remembering what they have read, and the techniques each author has used, the readers can incorporate the authors style of writing and use it in their own work. Reading provides us with a tremendous amount of knowledge and information that we can also use in our day-to-day lives. This makes us better prepared to take on any challenges we might face, or problems that might be bothering us. The exposure to new techniques and words certainly helps increase the readers’ vocabulary and aid in them having a higher level of language and a better understanding of the facts that dominate the world as we know it. It allows people to be better educated and become exceptional decision makers.  

But perhaps the most important benefits of reading, is the fact that it makes you focused. Sitting down for hours, being able to concentrate on a single book can definitely nullify the effects of the brain becoming side-tracked. It leads to increased concentration power even when you’re not reading. Studies have shown that reading before doing work that requires a high level of concentration actually increases the amount of time you can work on a task without getting distracted. It allows your brain to focus on one particular task at hand, and decreases the level of procrastination that might surround you.

Reading, nonetheless, is a huge source of entertainment. We are all raised on stories that our parents and elders tell us before we go to bed, or to keep us calm. It makes us think and imagine the story unfold. With books, you can truly find what you are passionate about, explore an interesting genre and dive in. If you discover something you truly enjoy, you are 100% guaranteed a rewarding experience.