May 6, 2019

Benefits of Reading

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Reading makes you smarter, more confident, and better able to hold a conversation. Do you read enough to earn these benefits?

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Reading every day is one of the best ways to stimulate your brain. It can help improve your memory, keep your mood up, and help you learn new things. Even reading things like the newspaper or comic books can be beneficial. Any printed word you can get your hands on can help you be a better person.

What are the health benefits of reading?
Reading provides numerous health benefits, including brain stimulation and mood enhancement. It may even help you live longer too! A study conducted at Yale University found that adults over the age of 50 who read 30 or more minutes a day lived two years longer than those who didn't read.

What is the purpose of reading?
Reading helps broaden your mind. If you already have knowledge on the subject in the book, reading can expand that knowledge, merging with the knowledge you already have.

If you don't have previous knowledge of the topic, you fill your brain with information that you can store and use down the road.

What are the benefits of reading for students?
Students who read (not because they have to) are often better readers. They also get higher scores on standardized tests and are all-around more knowledgeable.

Students who read outside of school also increase their vocabulary skills, are better spellers, and have a better grasp on proper grammar.

What are the benefits of reading to children?
Parents who read aloud to their children give them many benefits. Starting in the womb, children can absorb the words spoken by their mother when reading books. This helps babies form their foundation of language and gives them a head start in the world.

As your child grows, reading aloud helps your child form speaking skills, enhances vocabulary, encourages empathy, and creates advanced literacy skills.

The Benefits of Various Types of Reading

Are there any benefits to reading the newspaper?
You don't necessarily have to stick to books if you want to enjoy the benefits of reading. Newspaper readers also reap many benefits, including knowledge about world events, politics, and the economy.

Reading the newspaper can help enhance your vocabulary and give you more to talk about when you are with others.

What are the benefits of reading fiction?
Believe it or not, reading fiction books can help you become more socially aware. In a study, researchers found that reading fiction helps readers learn to step into the shoes of other people.

It can help you see another person's perspective, which can make you more empathetic and better at dealing with others who may or may not be just like you.

What are the benefits of reading historical fiction?
Historical fiction puts a fun spin on history. Some students, and even adults, just can't get into boring history text. But, when you put it into a fictional story that can wrap the reader into the story, it can become a much easier way to learn about our important history.

Can reading comic books make you smarter?
Comics still carry the myth that they don't help readers improve, but that's not the case. In fact, reading comics can make you smarter because of the tough vocabulary used in comics and the way it encourages you to read.

Just because they don't look like your standard book doesn't mean they aren't doing your brain some good!

Reading and the Benefit to Your Health

Does reading books make you happier?
In a study conducted by the University of Liverpool, Josie Billington found that reading helps people feel less depressed and even helps readers have higher self-esteem. Readers also seem to bond better with their peers and are able to better function in society.

Can reading make you calm?
If you feel anxious or upset, getting lost in a good book can help to calm you down. Getting lost in the plot of a story that takes you far away from your problems can give your mind and body time to relax and recover.

A study conducted by the University of Sussex in the UK states that reading for just six minutes can lower your stress levels as much as 68%.

Does reading make you more intelligent?
Reading does enhance your vocabulary and helps you think more abstractly as you try to put yourself in the middle of the plot. Reading can also help you have better verbal skills and more general knowledge than those who don't read on a regular basis.

Does reading hurt your eyesight?
There isn't any proof to show that reading hurts your eyesight. If you strain your eyes by reading fine print too often, you could cause some damage to your eyes, but normal reading doesn't do your eyesight any harm.

Can reading improve your memory?
When you read, you have a lot of information to remember and store. This makes your brain muscles work overtime, which can strengthen them over time.

The more you read, the more you make your brain muscles work, which can help to decrease the risk of memory loss as you age.

The Length of Time You Should Read

How long should you read each day?
Experts feel that reading at least 30 minutes a day is beneficial. As we stated above, those who read 30 minutes a day lived an average of two years longer than those who didn't read.

However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, young adults ages 15 - 24 read an average of 83 minutes per day, and adults ages 65 and older read an average of 1 hour and 47 minutes per day, so Americans are doing pretty good.

What are the benefits of reading 20 minutes a day?
If you have children in school, you've likely heard teachers say that your children should be reading 20 minutes a day—and for good reason. It helps your children improve their language skills, helps brain development, and makes kids better critical thinkers.

What are some simple ways to stay awake while reading?
Falling asleep while reading is a common phenomenon, but there are a few things you can do to keep yourself awake. For instance, don't lie down. In fact, sit somewhere that isn't too comfortable; this way, your body doesn't start winding down before you're ready.

Try reading under extra light so that you don't have to strain your eyes, and even consider moving around a little bit while you read.

What is the best time to read?
According to a study done at the University of Sussex, the best time to read is between 2 PM and 6 PM. The morning hours are reserved for recalling information you already learned and putting it into practice.

Reading Statistics

How fast does the average reader read?
On average, adults read 250 words per minute. College students, though, read as many as 300 words per minute. This is likely because of the constant practice college students have at reading and studying their material. If you are reading technical material, though, expect the average reading rate to go down to 50 - 75 words per minute due to the complexity of the issue.

How fast does a slow reader read?
A slow reader typically reads an average of 150 - 200 words per minute.

How much does Warren Buffet read per day?
Warren Buffet gives one piece of advice to his protégés: read a lot. In fact, Warren Buffet himself reads between five and six hours a day, which includes six newspapers.

How many books do CEOs read?
While the average person may read one to two books per year, the average CEO consumes between four and five books a month. That could be a large part of the reason CEOs are so successful.

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