Reading books should be an essential part of your life for many reasons. Here’s a more personal take on why:
  1. Knowledge Highway: Books are a vast reservoir of knowledge, offering insights and information on endless topics, helping us learn and grow continually.
  2. Expanded Vocabulary: With each book, you’re exposed to new words and phrases, enriching your vocabulary and making your language skills more nuanced.
  3. Memory Improvement: Reading keeps your mind active and engaged, enhancing your memory and cognitive functions. It’s like a workout for your brain.
  4. Stress Relief: Diving into a good book provides a temporary escape from the stresses of everyday life, offering a much-needed break and a chance to relax.
  5. Improved Focus and Concentration: Reading helps you build the ability to focus and concentrate for longer periods, which is beneficial in all areas of life.
  6. Empathy and Perspective: Through stories and characters, books teach us to see the world from different perspectives, fostering empathy and understanding.
  7. Increased Creativity: Immersing yourself in different worlds and ideas sparks your own creativity and enhances your problem-solving skills.
  8. Stronger Writing Skills: The more you read, the better your writing becomes. Exposure to well-crafted sentences and diverse styles improves your overall communication clarity.
  9. Better Quality of Sleep: Swapping screen time for a book before bed can improve your sleep quality. Reading relaxes your mind and prepares you for a good night’s rest.
  10. A Portal to New Worlds: Books transport you to new and exciting places, times, and experiences, broadening your horizons without leaving your chair.
  11. Lifelong Learning: Reading encourages a habit of lifelong learning. There’s always something new to discover, no matter your age.
  12. Conversation Starter: Books provide endless topics for conversation, making social interactions more engaging and interesting.
Those who read more are always 'heavier' with knowledge, empathy, and experience than those who read less. Embrace the world of books and watch how it enriches your life.
Great list. I've been making a point of reading before bed, rather than being on a device.
Jordan Peterson had an interesting point about the role of fiction in developing morals. We can tell stories about morally complex situations and let different types of characters navigate them.
Even if we don't know what the correct moral position is, we can reflect on the story and perhaps develop new insights about morality from it.
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Great post
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Thank you, friend, for your encouragement to enter the world of reading, which is so wonderful and allows us to be better people. Turning it into a habit is difficult at first, but then you enjoy it to the fullest.
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A great reminder to read more and watch less.
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Very true. Eventually you have to move past the fantasy and move into something more.
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Yes, Really ! Well said !
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My "#13":
Reading a book (as opposed to browsing the internet) causes you to grapple with a singular author's POV. When we use the internet, we can too easily use our biases to reinforce our narratives. When we read one book, we are forced to follow one author's conclusions.
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