10 Life-Changing Benefits Of Reading More Books

Discover 10 life-changing benefits of reading more books, from improving your mind and creativity to reducing stress and enriching your life.

Readers are obsessed with books—their stories, their beauty, and even the feel and smell of the pages. But beyond the joy of reading, is a regular reading habit actually good for you?

The answer is a definite yes. Here are 10 reasons why reading more books can improve your life.

10 Life-Changing Benefits Of Reading More Books

1. You can’t write if you don’t read. In our writing courses, we can quickly identify the people who don’t read fiction. They often have weaker comprehension and writing skills, and they struggle to structure their thoughts clearly on the page. Trying to write fiction without reading the genre is a recipe for disaster.
2. Your general knowledge improves when you read. People who read lots of fiction remember details. The best way to impart knowledge is through storytelling. I remember more about world wars from the fiction I’ve read than from many history lessons.
3. Reading helps you develop your own philosophy on life. It gives you perspective—a toolkit for understanding and dealing with the world. Without reading, your worldview is limited to the people around you and the often superficial content of television and the internet.
4. It helps you develop critical thinking skills. Without books, you have no reference point. Using your brain when you read helps you to develop cognitive skills. If you can’t comprehend and articulate your thoughts, you can’t argue coherently.
5. You can de-stress at minimal cost. Reading books and escaping into imaginary worlds allows us respite from our everyday problems. Even six minutes of reading can reduce your stress levels by more than two thirds. This is more effective than watching television or playing games.
6. You can keep your brain stimulated. A study by Washington University in St. Louis monitored brain activity while people read novels. Researchers found that readers’ brains simulate the events in the story and connect them to personal experiences. Reading can help create new neural pathways and keep your mind active.
7. You get to understand the world better. When you read fiction, you see why people behave the way they do. You explore their motivations, choices, and consequences. Because these lessons come through stories, they are easier to absorb and remember.
8. You learn social skills. Reading fiction helps us to know how to connect and interact with others in the real world. Research by Keith Oatley, PhD, at the University of Toronto, shows that people who read more fiction score higher on both empathy tests and social ability tests.
9. You learn that you are not alone. Perhaps this is the most important reason to read. At times, we all feel overwhelmed by life and our problems. Reading about how others face challenges gives us emotional insight and a new perspective on our own experiences.
10. You’re less likely to be a terrible person. Keith Oatley suggests that reading fiction can improve empathy It is not simply that empathetic people prefer to read more; reading itself can help us become more understanding of others.

The Last Word

Reading fiction makes us all round better people by making us happier. It helps our ability to communicate, boosts our creativity, and brings our humanity into sharp focus. Make time for reading, and you’ll discover the lasting rewards of a lifelong habit.

Additional Reading:

1. 20 Weird Things Readers Do
2. 5 Books That Predicted The Future
3. What Readers Gift To Writers

Writing Challenges:

1. The Writers Write Book Reading Challenge
2. The Writers Write Book Reading Challenge 2
3. The Writers Write Book Reading Challenge 3

Source for image: Pixabay

by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson

More posts from Amanda:

1. The Author’s Promise: The Two Things Every Writer Owes Their Reader
2. Why Every Story Needs Consequences
3. Scenes And Sequels: The Writer’s Guide To Stronger Story Structure
4. 50 Motivational Writing Quotes To Inspire You
5. The Writer’s Guide To Good Description: 10 Mistakes To Avoid
6. 10 Powerful Cliffhangers Every Writer Should Know
7. How To Write A Vignette (With Examples)
8. Mystery, Horror, Thriller – What’s The Difference?
9. How Writers Use The Love Interest As A Literary Device
10. Make Readers Care: 9 Ways To Create An Unforgettable Story

Top Tip: Sign up for our free daily writing links.