6 Compelling Reasons to Read More Books

Since quitting my library job, not only have I come to hold a greater appreciation for the services libraries provide, but I have also spent time evaluating my reading habits, thinking about why books are so meaningful in my life and why they will always remain relevant in our ever-changing world.

An avid reader since childhood, I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that so many people choose not to read books. The ability to read is a source of privilege and power, and books are the premium banks of knowledge in an otherwise bankrupt culture. I realize this may make me sound like a book snob, but really I just want to generate enthusiasm for book reading: fruit for your brain! Magic in your mind! Here’s why book reading is so great.

1. Books allow us to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

I believe we live in a time and place where empathy is in short supply, but empathy can be developed and strengthened. If we want to know what it was like to grow up in Syria, to be born a different race or gender, to live with a chronic illness, or to be a career magician and street performer, we need only head to the nearest library or bookstore. We have a plethora of texts to choose from that will enable us to see directly into other people’s thoughts and experiences.

Better news: a lot of research, including this study conducted by The New School in New York City, has shown that reading literary fiction increases empathy. Participants scored higher than non-readers and readers of other genres in successfully understanding the thoughts and emotions of others.

2. Books give us deeper knowledge and understanding, enhancing our critical thinking skills.

The internet, with all its wonders, has unfortunately transformed the way we read. We are now taking in massive amounts of surface level information, oftentimes without questioning the sources or reading further for a deeper understanding. (Check out Nicholas Carr’s “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” for more on this and other ways reading on the internet has changed our brains.) A book is an essential deep-dive into a topic or person. Books not only challenge our focus, but give us either the support and reasoning behind a stance or the opportunity to form our own. We may finish the book with more questions than we had when we started, proving that knowledge is not finite. We ask ourselves why we did or didn’t like it, what we enjoyed and what made us uncomfortable, using our own brain as a filter instead of a search engine.

3. Reading books stimulates your imagination and keeps your brain young.

Exercising the brain is much like exercising the body: there are many ways to go about it depending on your goals, and the more you do it the better shape you are in. While reading to learn something is an obvious way to grow your knowledge and increase your deeper understanding of a subject, even actively reading a novel increases brain connectivity, according to a 2013 study done by Emory University. Trying to figure out a character’s motive, wondering what will happen next, picturing the scene--these are all great ways to stimulate your brain by encouraging it to think in a new way.

4. Reading books is a great way to better understand yourself.

If you’re a habitual reader, you’ll likely start to notice patterns in your reading style and the books you tend to enjoy. It may be something common, like preferring cozy mysteries in the fall or beach reads in the summer, but it may also be something more personal to you. For instance, the fact that I can’t read psychological thrillers before bed reinforces my sensitivity to violence and fear. Furthermore, reading a particular book at different stages of your life is a great way to see how much you’ve grown and changed over the years. (Challenge: if you are in your late-twenties or older, try rereading a novel you were assigned to read in high school and see how it affects you now.)

5. Books give us a quiet respite from the noisy world.

Is there anything better on a rainy day than curling up in a cozy chair under a knit blanket with a hot mug of coffee and a good book? Books are almost an essential part of every comfortable, relaxing setting. They’re the perfect way to unwind, shut off, and tune out. The ultimate solo activity, reading is a way to say to the world around you “I’m in my own little world; please do not disturb.”

6. Reading books is an act of resistance and power.

Withholding access to education is a way of suppressing power. When you think of all the people throughout history–Frederick Douglass, Malala Yousafzai, countless enslaved persons and oppressed populations–who have literally risked death to learn how to read and fight for their right to an education, hopefully you feel as inspired as I do by their bravery. The ability to read is something that many of us take for granted. I can’t help but feel that picking up and reading a book is one of the many ways we can honor their struggles and further empower ourselves to learn, grow, and arm ourselves with knowledge and awareness.

Bonus reason: books are an endless source of entertainment, of course! The antidote to mindless scrolling, the cure for TV boredom, the easy yet guilt-free way to kill some time.

What’s your reason for reading?