8 Reasons to Read: backed by the Science

8 Benefits of Reading Print Books: Backed by Science

December 1, 2024

Following on from my ABC interview this week about getting adults to read more books, I wanted to explain how diving into a page-turner can enrich your health and happiness. Here, we share science-backed reasons to read a print book and ideas for continuing the habit as an adult.

1. Increases Your Intelligence

To qoute Dr Seuss, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Diving into a great book opens up a whole world of knowledge starting from a very young age.

Exposure to vocabulary through reading not only improves children’s performance on reading tests but also enhances their scores on general intelligence tests. Additionally, developing strong reading skills early in life may contribute to higher intelligence in the long term.

2. Makes Us More Empathetic

I think the world could do with an empathy revolution right now. “The ability to connect empathically with others—to feel with them, to care about their well-being, and to act with compassion—is critical to our lives, helping us to get along, work more effectively, and thrive as a society,” says author Helen Reiss, of the book The Empathy Effect.

Immersing yourself in a good book can enhance your ability to connect with others. Literary fiction, in particular, helps readers better understand others’ thoughts and emotions. Research shows this effect is more pronounced in readers of literary fiction compared to nonfiction.

3. E-book or Print Book: which helps us to remember content?

When it comes to actually remembering what you’re reading, you’re better off going with a printed book than an e-book. The feel of paper pages under your fingertips provides your brain with some context, which can lead to a deeper understanding and better comprehension of the subject you’re reading.

In order to reap the benefits of a good read, opt for the kind with physical pages.

4. Boost Your Brainpower!

Regular reading not only enhances intelligence but also boosts brainpower. Much like jogging strengthens your cardiovascular system, consistent reading exercises your brain, improving memory function. While aging naturally leads to a decline in memory and cognitive abilities, reading may help slow this process, keeping the mind sharper for longer.

5. Helps you to Relax

Reading can be a great stress-buster for both adults and kids alike. Research tells us that reading can reduce stress by up to 65%. A great book can help you to escape the stresses of everyday life and spend some time in a different domain.

6. Read for Improved Sleep

Reading a print book before bed helps you relax more than zoning out in front of a screen. Screens like e-readers, tv and tablets can keep you awake longer and even impair sleep.

That applies to our kids too! Fifty-four percent of children sleep near a small screen, and clock 20 minutes to 2 hours of less quality sleep on average because of it. Instead of a tablet, select a literal page-turner before switching off the light.

7. Live Longer with Books!

Did you know that reearch shows reading printed books can help you to live longer? So reaching for a book has extra advantages to your health.

8. Encourages Life-long Reading

Eighty-two percent of parents wish their children would read more for fun, and those who want to encourage their children to become bookworms can start by modeling reading at home. Scholastic’s biennial survey of families shows that having adults in their lives who read inspires children to become frequent readers (reading five to seven days per week). While most children say they have someone in their life who enjoys reading (95 percent), those with a lot of reading role models have a higher chance of becoming frequent readers themselves.

This is what I spoke about with Steve and stressed to his listeners: seeing adults read and having adults read to them can help children gain a love for reading that lasts a lifetime.

So, how can you read more and enjoy it?

To enjoy the benefits of reading, you simply need to make time for it. However, as adults, our busy schedules can make it challenging to fit in. Here are some tips to help you incorporate more reading into your daily or weekly routine.

Choose shorter books

Picking up a hefty book may cause you to feel overwhelmed. Instead, try books with short chapters or books of moderate length. It may encourage you to read more often and you’ll feel accomplished as you finish.

Set a timer

I mentioned this with Steve. Devote an amount of time each day to reading. It doesn’t have to be a marathon session—even five minutes of reading is beneficial. Set a timer for the desired amount of time and sit down to enjoy your book. This helps to build a daily habit.

Set Some Goals

Decide on reading goals that work with your daily schedule and responsibilities. Perhaps you wish to read a chapter every day, or 20 pages or watch 30 minutes less tv in order to read. Maybe your goal is to finish a book once a month. Be realistic so they match your routine and you can more easily achieve them.

Incidental Reading

Waiting for a friend to meet for coffee? In the car waiting for kids to finish training? Waiting for an appointment? On public transport travelling to work? Undoubtedly, there are moments when you find yourself waiting. If you have some extra time, having a book accessible can help you pass the time. Pack a book in your bag!