Reading books may have several health benefits. These include strengthening your brain, increasing your ability to empathize, reducing stress, and building your vocabulary.
Reading books benefits both your physical and mental health, and those benefits can last a lifetime. They begin in early childhood and continue throughout your lifetime.
Here’s how reading books can change your brain — and your body — for the better.
Reading involves activity in several parts of the brain, and over time, it may change your brain structure.
One 2020 study found that increased gray matter in the part of the brain called the left superior temporal cortex was associated with better reading performance in children. Gray matter plays a role in cognitive function.
An older 2017 study found that people who read literary fiction show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others.
Researchers call this ability the “theory of mind,” a set of skills essential for building, navigating, and maintaining social relationships.
While a single session of reading literary fiction isn’t likely to spark this feeling,
Researchers have found that reading comprehension and vocabulary knowledge are related. A student with greater reading comprehension is more likely to have a larger vocabulary, and vice-versa.
The size of your vocabulary can influence many areas of your life, including:
- standardized test scores
- college admissions
- job opportunities
The
A 2022 study in China found that reading had a positive effect on the physical and mental health of older individuals. It also provided a social outlet, which had further positive effects.
A 2020 study in 1,960 older adults in Taiwan found that, after a 14-year follow-up, those who read more were less likely to face cognitive decline.
Reading may improve subjective sleep quality in some individuals. It may also reduce the time it takes for you to fall asleep, and increase the time spent sleeping.
For best results, you may choose a print book rather than reading on a screen, as the light emitted by your device could keep you awake.
Further, a
An older 2017 study followed a cohort of 3,635 adult participants for 12 years, finding that those who read books survived around 2 years longer than those who either didn’t read or who read magazines and other forms of media.
The study found that people who read more than 3 1/2 hours every week were 23 percent more likely to live longer than those who didn’t read.
The researchers also found a 20% reduction in mortality for those who read books specifically, compared to those who did not read books. This effect was not observed in other mediums, such as newspapers and magazines.
So, what should you be reading? The short answer is: Whatever you can get your hands on.
If you’re pressed for time, devote a few minutes daily to a blog or a news article. If you’re looking for an escape, fantasy or historical fiction can transport you out of your own surroundings and into another world altogether.
If possible, don’t read solely on a device. Studies have shown that people who read print books retain slightly more of what they read than those who read the same material digitally.
That may be, in part, because people tend to read print more slowly than they read digital content.
Get our team’s recommendations
If you’re looking for your next read, our team has you covered! Here are 13 of our current book recommendations — some are related to health and wellness, and some are just for fun.
Reading is associated with several health benefits, such as improving sleep, reducing stress, and increasing longevity.
It’s especially important for children to read as much as possible, because the effects of reading are cumulative. However, it’s never too late to take advantage of the many physical and psychological benefits that reading offers.
