How many times did you start reading a book because you were feeling lonely? Only to discover a new world for yourself once you start turning those pages?
Reading books is fun, and it has the opposite effect of a guilty pleasure. A good book can keep you entertained and make you feel productive. They say books are a man’s best friend, for a reason.
Now, while shows and movies are fun and can be informative, sometimes books can create magic that TV just can’t. And that’s something people realized since the pandemic. The U.S. book publishing industry, for instance, is expected to be worth more than $30 billion by 2025.
There are a number of ways to learn much more about life, right from self-help books to reading fiction. And if you’re still wondering why people should read books, you will find the following list to be very relatable!
25 Reasons Why Should People Read Books
1. Break from Reality
When you read a book, you become part of a world that you didn’t even know existed. It does not matter what difficulties you are facing in life. A book will accept you with open arms and help you forget them.
You get to live life in someone else’s shoes, it is much better than playing games or even watching a movie. Books demand your attention to read them. You lose your grasp of reality and become entirely engrossed in what the writer is telling you. It’s an entertaining and productive break when life gets too dull or overwhelming.
2. New World
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When you read a book, you get lost in words. You find yourself transported to another dimension. And you get attached to the characters, so much so that you laugh and cry with them.
You see new places, some that don’t even exist in reality. Books bring out your emotions and comfort you, making the real world seem far away. A good book doesn’t just make you read the story; it makes you live it.
3. Wild Imagination
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Authors have a gift of making things that you have never seen before appear real. With their vivid descriptions and minuscule details, you can imagine the appearance of characters and places, and this is the wonderful answer to why people should read books. They direct your thoughts into an image created through words.
Because you can create your own world! Well even in real life, your brain activity is boosted, and your imagination becomes more enhanced, giving you a creative approach to everything.
4. Vocabulary
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Any kind of book will give you knowledge of words you didn’t know about before. Many writers use sophisticated concepts, and if you don’t know their meaning, you look them up for context in the story. This way, you end up incorporating such new words into your daily conversations and increase your reading ability and better writing skills. They help you undoubtedly with your vocabulary growth (also print book wins any day to a digital book).
Writers always use new and innovative words to spice up their writing skills, so that it appeals to the readers. And readers, in turn, make extra efforts to understand such concepts to enrich their reading experience, thus expanding their vocabulary.
5. Language Skills
The more you read, the better your language skills become. Whether it is grammar, vocabulary, or writing skills, books improve and sharpen your skills. Since writing a book requires extensive and accurate use of the language, a reader can learn from it, whether consciously or subconsciously.
6. Knowledgeable
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Books are a treasure of knowledge which has the potential of teaching you something new. No matter what book you are reading, it will give you a new piece of information you didn’t know about before. Books yield the power of arming you with the knowledge that makes you smarter and educated beyond just academics.
It doesn’t matter if the book is about wizards, dragons, princesses, pirates, murders, or historical accounts; you will always learn something new from it. The world is so big, and books are the cheapest way to travel to every corner of it.
7. Cultured
Books expose you to different cultures and lifestyles, an imperative reason why people should read books. They tell us about a different way of living. Books can give you an understanding of the differences among people and why they exist.
It can help you become a well-read, informed person open to hearing about new experiences, whether it is in a book or a conversation. They inform us about diversity and make us more open to accepting everybody without judgment or discrimination. And today’s world needs more people like that.
8. Therapeutic
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Studies say that books reduce stress. Even if you read for less than 6 minutes, your stress levels can go down up to 60%. You must ensure that you are reading for pleasure and not out of compulsion, they also have health benefits one of the best benefits of reading books. While newspapers and magazines are essential sources of information, to read magazines may not alleviate your stress, and might even be overwhelming.
9. Feelings of Love and Friendship
Fiction book authors ensure that their books are packed with all emotions. As an avid reader, you may find books bringing tears to your eyes. And some can make you cry your eyes out, long term fiction readers can relate.
Characters in literary fiction stories and historical fiction are always relatable and realistic, making you feel for them as if they are your friends.
You resonate with their hardships and struggles because they might reflect the problems in your life. And feeling a kinship to characters and stories helps you keep in touch with your own emotions.
10. Teach You Something
This is an important reason why people should read books. Whether it’s through a moral lesson or a piece of information, a good book stays with you for a long time. It can teach you how to be the right person, without even giving a direct how-to.
Life may be stressful, and according to study from the University of Sussex, even six minutes of reading can reduce stress by more than two-thirds by decreasing heart rates and relaxing muscles.
In fact, they observed that it was more effective than listening to music or going for a walk in relieving tension. The narrative may be distracting you from your life because you need to concentrate.
You will learn something without feeling like you are being taught. Reading books doesn’t have the same dull feeling as reading study material. Books are written in an appealing way that interests you and keeps you hooked.
11. Open to Change
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Books are known to push your thoughts out of their boundaries. They expose you to new ideas, opinions, and perspectives, thus giving you an “outside the box” thinking. Reading gives you a unique thought process, which may not be the same as everyone else’s.
You also improve your reading skill. This makes you more accepting of newness and change. It also makes you more conscious of new ideas and creations.
A tangible book may provide additional information. According to several research, kids absorb more information from paper than from screens, emphasizing the need of reading a physical book rather than an e-reader.
According to one Norwegian research, kids who read print materials performed higher on reading comprehension tests than those who read digitally. According to a SAGE Journals evaluation of educational studies, readers may not grasp complicated or lengthy content as effectively while seeing it online.
12. Entertaining
One of the most significant reasons why people should read books is because they are a source of entertainment. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we always look for a refreshing break, which is entertaining and fun.
And when we are tired, we want it to be right in our homes. While shows and movies are a lot of people’s go-to, they can be harmful to your eyes. That’s why books are a healthier option that can provide you with refreshing entertainment.
13. Broadens Your Horizons
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Well, here’s exactly why. Sometimes, life becomes monotonous, and you just need something that makes you feel bold and adventurous. Books challenge your thoughts and notions, expanding them to create a clearer understanding.
And the broader genre of books you read, the more varied your knowledge and understanding will become. Books expand your horizons and make your brain sharper and more alert. Reading fiction, for example, can help you be more open-minded and creative. According to University of Toronto research, study participants who read short-story fiction had considerably less desire for “cognitive closure” than peers who read nonfiction essays.
14. Writing Skills
As an avid reader, I can tell you with the conviction that reading more has helped me sharpen my writing skills. Even if you don’t pay close attention to the way an author converts actions and characters into words, you will still find yourself with a takeaway and develop a distinctive writing style. You will learn to think as both- a reader and a writer.
Since books improve your language skills and vocabulary, that also leads to becoming a better writer. A writer’s breezy style of writing is a practice that requires experience.
15. Discover Who You Are
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Books make you introspect. They coerce you to dig deep inside yourself and find out what your feelings and opinions are. Reading challenges you to find yourself, regular reading is a very healthy habit, the benefits of reading books are innumerable and for human beings to communicate effectively is one of the most important ones.
Some novels may bring out your emotions and make you angry or laugh or cry, thus giving you a sense of what you like or dislike, what infuriates you, what makes you sad or happy, and what makes you laugh. Every time I read a book; I feel a little closer to myself than before.
16. More Details Than Movies
Books and movies are often compared to each other. While one side argues that watching movies is an easy exercise and visual effects enrich the experience, the other hand explains that books offer much more detailed descriptions of actions. Take the Harry Potter books, for instance.
While the movies were excellent pieces of cinema, the books made us feel closer to the characters and gave us a long story that has stayed in our hearts forever. Papers delve deeper into what a character is feeling, how they move and talk, how an action scene is being played out, and how a place looks.
17. Communication Skills
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Reading books makes you more informed and knowledgeable. And when you have increased factual knowledge, more so than other people, you become more confident in your abilities.
Since books also help expand your vocabulary and improve your grammar, you may also become a better orator. Communication is key and this is one of the most important reasons why reading is essential.
You are also able to understand human behaviors and tendencies better, making you an effective communicator.
18. Concentration
Reading requires you to stay focused and attentive to understand what is written. This helps in increasing your attention span. You are less likely to get distracted if you commit yourself to reading consistently, even if for just a few minutes, your thoughts will not deter, and you will find that you can concentrate more easily.
19. Fandoms
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Books can garner a lot of interest, love, and affection. People get hooked on the story, characters, and universe. This, in turn, forms fandoms where fans of the book from all over the world unite in love for a single story. You experience the wholesome feeling of being part of a group that has all kinds of different people. Books are a magical way of bringing people together, and it is a special feeling to be a part of a fandom.
20. Motivation
One of the most important reasons is the kind of motivation you get from them. There are all kinds of books out there. The self-help genre is primarily on the rise. These books offer solace, advice, and encouragement.
Books can make you feel less lonely and more confident in yourself. Even books that are not self-help can motivate you and help you get out of a low phase of your life. Many people have credited books being their source of light in times of darkness.
21. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
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Books come in all kinds of genres and types. While many people like to find their favorite kind and stick to it (me), you will become a more well-rounded person if you read outside your comfort zone. This will help you develop a wide array of interests. And sometimes, if you read books that you are not familiar with, you might just be inspired to try something new. This is an important reason why people should read books.
22. Stay in Your Heart Forever
Books stay in your heart and linger in your mind. They can also be responsible for resurrecting good memories and vibes. Many people like to revisit the books they read in their childhood because they feel that they are a piece of their hearts. That is why people cherish their favorite books, and always remember them or read them in trying times of need or distress.
23. Fresh Take on Life
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Reading a captivating book can be more than just a fun experience. Sometimes, it gives you a fresh perspective. It changes your point of view and allows you to perceive things differently. It may also give you a better grasp of your senses because you will be experiencing stories and accounts from an outsider’s eye.
24. Better Sense of Judgement
When you read a novel, you unconsciously become a judge of character. There are all kinds of characters in a story, some you love, while others you grow to hate. In this way, you understand why people make some decisions and take some actions. Books give you a better sense of judgment in this way, and you start to apply it in your daily life as well. This may open your eyes and make you more understanding of other people.
25. It’s Fun!
Books take you on a journey full of adventures. Sitting in one remote corner of the world, you can experience how someone feels from around the globe. Books are fascinating, amusing, and available in all kinds and types of your liking. It doesn’t matter what type of paper you are reading. It doesn’t have to be informative or historic. As long as you are enjoying it, you are doing it the right way!
These reasons why people should read books are few amongst many. Books are loyal and supportive; anything a good friend would be. You can always count on them to uplift your mood and inspire you. So, if you’ve never read in your life, just pick up any random book and start reading. You never know which adventure it might take you on.
Watch this video to understand further why people should read books:
Now that you know the answer to why people should read books, click here for a list of books to read if you are a new reader. Visit Icy tales for more entertaining and informative articles.
Last Updated on by ritukhare
