Why Is Reading the Most Complex Brain and Mind Exercise?

Reading books has many benefits, including vocabulary enrichment, stress reduction, and the development of analytical thinking.

Although there are still a lot of people who feel that reading is only related to school years, this activity is extremely useful not only for children (who should be encouraged to enjoy reading, not only for school) but also for adults: not only for the enrichment of knowledge about the world and life, for the broadening of personal horizons and to become more empathetic but also for relaxation.

True, the pace of life can sometimes be overwhelming and, divided between worries about work, children's lessons, and other stressful activities, we may not have much time left to read. But reading books has many benefits, and if we read even 30 pages a day, we can enjoy them.

Reading develops analytical thinking

Unlike TV, where we have a passive attitude, reading is an active process: we follow the thread of the action, we try to understand the terms in the text, we try to discern between what is correct and what is not in that text, etc.

All this develops our analytical thinking, increases our ability to discriminate, make connections and understand complex phenomena.

No one is born learned, but reading helps to form critical and analytical thinking. People who frequently read in different fields develop independent thinking, see the big picture more clearly, are more difficult to manipulate and influence in the wrong directions, and make informed decisions.

Reading increases your imagination and you become more creative

Compared to cinema and television - where the film is imagined, directed and shot by someone else - when we read a book we create our own film in our minds.

This leads to the development of creativity and imagination, which helps us to solve the tasks we have to perform much faster and more efficiently and increases our self-esteem, which is a feeling that helps us a lot in life.

Reading increases the baggage of knowledge and general culture

Books are an important source of information, even more, important than movies, although it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

In a book, details are presented that often cannot be presented in a movie, and a book allows you to emphasize what interests you or to reread a paragraph until you understand it deeply.

Reading enriches vocabulary and expressive ability

By reading books you learn new words, terms, and expressions that help you understand many more things and be a good interlocutor, discussing something other than "how is the weather" or "who won the championship".

A study conducted by the University College of London on 11,000 teenagers showed that teenagers who enjoy reading in their free time understand 26% more words than those who do not.

We all have moments when we can't seem to find the words to express clearly what we want or need from others. But a person for whom reading is a common activity has more words in his vocabulary, can structure his ideas better, and can express himself more easily, so that he can be better understood.

Reading also helps you when you learn a foreign language because it will be easier to place the words learned in a context.

Reading stimulates you mentally

Studies show that keeping your brain as active as possible can slow the progression of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Like any other muscle in the body, the brain needs the training to stay strong and healthy. In addition to reading books, chess and solving puzzles also have cognitive stimulation effects.

Literature books reduce stress

No matter how stressed you may be because of work, personal relationships, or other reasons, diving into an addictive book makes you forget about all your problems.

A well-written novel alleviates mental tensions and helps you relax, transporting you to another world. The genre of the novel is up to everyone: there are people who relax reading police books, others who prefer romantic comedies or SF adventures.

There are so many options on the market and so many recommendations from critics and readers that it's impossible not to find readings to your liking that have a positive impact on your life.

Theoretical and practical books enrich the knowledge

When we read something, we can retain useful information in a practical way that can help us at work, at home, or in our relationships with others. There are informative books on every subject, from how to be more efficient at work and how to develop various skills (learning computer programs, for example) to practical guides on how to be healthier, how to build various objects. or how to better relate to others.

Frequent readings improve memory

When you read a novel, you have to remember all kinds of characters and events. Everything you remember creates new synapses (neural pathways) and strengthens existing ones, which contributes to better short-term memory and stabilization of mood swings.

If you read often, you increase your ability to concentrate

The state of social media, where we move quickly from one piece of information to another and from one picture to another while sending an e-mail for work or chatting with someone on chat reduces our ability to concentrate and makes us more impatient and less productive.

Reading books, however, teaches us to be more careful and focus on one thing, to absorb the details of finesse.

When you are a good reader, you are also a good writer

Of course, not everyone who reads is able to write sensational novels, for example, and there is no need.

However, if you read a lot, you will notice over time that you are developing a better-written expression, whether it is the messages or presentations associated with the service or the personal e-mails.

Reading has a calming effect

It is true that if you read a novel with bloody crimes or one in which the characters go through overwhelming dramas, you have little chance to calm down. But when you feel the need to calm down, a funny book or one that tells pleasant memories may be exactly what you need.

Reading is cheap fun

Although many new books can be priced high, you don't always have to pick up the latest titles.

Check out publishers' websites to find out when they offer discounts, attend book fairs, where discounts are substantial for many titles, and research online libraries, where you can read a lot of books for free. In addition, you can borrow books from relatives or friends to share with others.

"Only cattle and gods do not need books!" (P. Țuțea)

Reading is that activity that you can't fail to do. It's the kind of investment you're going to make anyway, both in the short term and in the long run. The idea is to respect 3 conditions: to do it with pleasure, consciously and critically thinking. Besides, the latter are also the qualities that increase your reading. So, it's a circle, not vicious, but full of benefits and intellectual pleasures.