Good News, Bookworms Science Says Reading Books Should Be Your Priority

Apr 10, 2018 by apost team

Bookworms, rejoice! Recently, reports have shown that readers are healthier in many aspects of their lives. Studies say that reading books can improve your mental, physical, and social health.

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If you’re in a creative rut, one study from the University of Toronto shows that you should read fiction. Researchers conducted a study in which some participants were given short-story fiction to read, and others were given nonfiction.

The results showed that participants who read fiction tend to be more creative, open-minded, and less inclined to experience the need for “cognitive closure.”

The authors of the report claim that while reading nonfiction passages allow participants to retain knowledge about a subject, fiction writing presents the reader with different ways of thinking about the same subject.

Another study from Yale found that of its 3,635 participants, those who read books for at least 30 minutes per day lived almost two years longer than those who didn’t read at all.

This can be attributed to cognitive engagement, which can improve your ability to concentrate and expand your vocabulary.

Greater cognitive engagement can also increase longevity by improving your empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence.

Writer Stephanie Huston has recently begun to reap the benefits of constant reading. Huston used to believe that her goal of reading 50 books in a year, which translates to roughly one book per week, was impossible because she didn’t have time.

But by swapping the time spent on her phone throughout the day for time with a book, she is making her goal a reality. Huston reports that after two months of reading before bed and during her spare time throughout the day, she is more peaceful and satisfied in life.

Not only can books help with your health, but also with your career. Many successful executives have attributed their professional drive and self-improvement to books. I reached out to some of these executives for recommendations.

The most commonly mentioned titles were: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz; Shoe Dog by Phil Knight; Good to Great by Jim Collins; and Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson

So, if you’re one of the reported 26 percent of American adults who have not opened a book the past year, and you would like to improve your life, you may want to start reading. Your body and mind will thank you later.

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