When was the last time you read a book, or a substantial magazine

article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook

updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet? If youre
one of countless people who dont make a habit of reading regularly,
you might be missing out: reading has a significant number of
benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

1. Mental Stimulation
Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the
progressof (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimers and Dementia, since
keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power.
Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to
keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase use it or lose it is
particularly apt when it comes to your mind. Doing puzzles and
playing games such as chess have also been found to be helpful with
cognitive stimulation.

2. Stress Reduction
No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal
relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just
slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel

can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will

distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions
drain away and allowing you to relax.

3. Knowledge
Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and
you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge
you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge youll
ever face.
Additionally, heres a bit of food for thought: should you ever find
yourself in dire circumstances, remember that although you might lose
everything elseyour job, your possessions, your money, even your
healthknowledge can never be taken from you.

4. Vocabulary Expansion
This goes with the above topic: the more you read, the more words you
gain exposure to, and theyll inevitably make their way into your
everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help
in any profession, and knowing that you can speak to higher-ups with
self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could
even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and
knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more
quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack
of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.

Reading books is also vital for learning new languages, as non-native

speakers gain exposure to words used in context, which will ameliorate
their own speaking and writing fluency.

5. Memory Improvement
When you read a book, you have to remember an assortment of
characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, history, and nuances, as well
as the various arcs and sub-plots that weave their way through every
story. Thats a fair bit to remember, but brains are marvellous things
and can remember these things with relative ease. Amazingly
enough, every new memory you create forges new synapses (brain
pathways)and strengthens existing ones, which assists in shortterm memory recall as well as stabilizing moods. How cool is that?

6. Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery
yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put critical
and analytical thinking to work by taking note of all the details
provided and sorting them out to determine whodunnit.
That same ability to analyze details also comes in handy when it comes
to critiquing the plot; determining whether it was a well-written piece,
if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran
smoothly, etc. Should you ever have an opportunity to discuss the book
with others, youll be able to state your opinions clearly, as youve
taken the time to really consider all the aspects involved.

7. Improved Focus and Concentration

In our internet-crazed world, attention is drawn in a million different
directions at once as we multi-task through every day. In a single 5minute span, the average person will divide their time between
working on a task, checking email, chatting with a couple of people
(via gchat, skype, etc.), keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring their
smartphone, and interacting with co-workers. This type of ADD-like
behaviour causes stress levels to rise, and lowers our productivity.
When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story
the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in
every fine detail youre absorbing. Try reading for 15-20 minutes
before work (i.e. on your morning commute, if you take public transit),
and youll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you
get to the office.

8. Better Writing Skills

This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary:
exposure to published, well-written work has a noted effect on ones
own writing, as observing the cadence, fluidity, and writing styles of
other authors will invariably influence your own work. In the same
way that musicians influence one another, and painters use techniques
established by previous masters, so do writers learn how to craft prose
by reading the works of others.

9. Tranquility

In addition to the relaxation that accompanies reading a good book,

its possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense
inner peace and tranquility. Reading spiritual texts can lower blood
pressure and bring about an immense sense of calm, while reading
self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from
certain mood disorders and mild mental illnesses.

10. Free Entertainment

Though many of us like to buy books so we can annotate them and
dog-ear pages for future reference, they can be quite pricey. For lowbudget entertainment, you can visit your local library and bask in the
glory of the countless tomes available there for free. Libraries have
books on every subject imaginable, and since they rotate their stock
and constantly get new books, youll never run out of reading
materials.
If you happen to live in an area that doesnt have a local library, or if
youre mobility-impaired and cant get to one easily, most libraries
have their books available in PDF or ePub format so you can read them
on your e-reader, iPad, or your computer screen. There are also many
sources onlinewhere you can download free e-books, so go hunting for
something new to read!
Theres a reading genre for every literate person on the planet, and
whether your tastes lie in classical literature, poetry, fashion
magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help
guides, street lit, or romance novels, theres something out there to
capture your curiosity and imagination. Step away from your computer

for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul for a little
while.

Although more and more people own e-books, it seems safe to say
that real books aren't going anywhere yet. Eighty-eight percent of the
Americans who read e-books continue to read printed ones as well. And
while we're all for the convenience of digital downloads and a lighter load,
we can't bring ourselves to part with the joy of a good, old-fashioned read.
There's nothing like the smell of old books or the crack of a new one's spine.
(Plus,you'll never run low on battery.) And it turns out that diving into a
page-turner can also offer benefits toward your health and happiness. Here
are eight smart reasons to read a real book.

It increases intelligence.

As Dr. Seuss once wrote, 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
good book opens up a whole world of knowledge starting from a very young
age. Children's books expose kids to 50 percent more words than prime
time TV, or even a conversation between college graduates, according to
a paper from the University of California, Berkeley. Exposure to that new
vocabulary not only leads to higher score on reading tests, but also higher
scores on general tests of intelligence. Plus, stronger early reading
skills may mean higher intelligence later in life.
A quick tip: If you're looking for a power read, opt for a traditional
book. Research suggests that reading on a screen can slow you down by as
much as 20 to 30 percent.

Plus, it can boost your brain power.

Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can actually
increase your brain power. Just like going for a jog exercises your
cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by
giving your brain a good work out. With age comes a decline in memory and
brain function, but regular reading may help slow the process,
keeping minds sharper longer, according to research published
in Neurology. Frequent brain exercise was able to lower mental decline by
32 percent, reports The Huffington Post.

Reading can make you more empathetic.

Getting lost in a good read can make it easier for you to relate to others.
Literary fiction, specifically, has the power to help its readers understand
what others are thinking by reading other people's emotions, according to
research published in Science. The impact is much more significant on
those who read literary fiction as opposed to those who read nonfiction.
"Understanding others mental states is a crucial skill that enables the
complex social relationships that characterize human societies," David
Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano wrote of their findings.

Flipping pages can help you understand what you're reading.

When it comes to actually remembering what you're reading, you're better

off going with a book than you are 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 about, Wired reports. So to reap the benefits of a good read, opt for
the kind with physical pages.

It may help fight Alzheimer's disease.

Reading puts your brain to work, and that's a very good thing. Those who
who engage their brains through activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles
could be 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who
spend their down time on less stimulating activities. The paper suggests
that exercising the brain may help because inactivity increases the risk of
developing Alzheimer's, inactivity is actually an early indicator of the
disease, or a little of each.

Reading can help you relax.

There's a reason snuggling up with a good book (and maybe a glass of wine)
after a long day sounds so appealing. Research suggests that reading can
work as a serious stress-buster. One 2009 study by Sussex University
researchers showed that reading may reduce stress by as much as 68
percent. "It really doesn't matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a
thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of
the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's
imagination," cognitive neuropsychologist David Lewis told The Telegraph.

Reading before bed can help you sleep.

Creating a bedtime ritual, like reading before bed, signals to your body that
it's time to wind down and go to sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Reading a real book helps you relax more than zoning out in front of a
screen before bed. Screens like e-readers and tablets can actually keep you
awake longer and even hurt your sleep. That applies to kids too: Fifty-four
percent of children sleep near a small screen, and clock 20 fewer minutes of
shut-eye on average because of it, according to research published
in Pediatrics. So reach for the literal page-turners before switching off the
light.

Reading is contagious.

Seventy-five 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 reading out loud at home. While most parents stop reading out loud
after their children learn to do it on their own, a new report from Scholastic
suggests that reading out loud to kids throughout their elementary school
years may inspire them to become frequent readersmeaning kids who
read five to seven days per week for fun. More than 40 percent of frequent
readers ages six through 10 were read to out loud at home, but only 13
percent of those who did not read often for fun were. Translation? Story
time offers a good way to spark an interest in the hobby.

Why we all need books: The

benefits of reading for pleasure
REGULARLY enjoying a good book can make us more satisfied, improve self-esteem
and help with sleep problems. That is where Quick Reads comes in.
It is a real piece of luck when your passion from childhood becomes your career.
In the many years since I first became a junior publishing assistant, I have never, for a moment,
lost the pleasure and stimulation of burying myself in a good book.
Which is why since I and others set up Quick Reads in 2006 to encourage more people to
discover books I have always been determined that however significant the educational or
economic implications of reading are for our country, books most important benefit was their
impact on the emotional lives of individuals.
At different stages in my life, books have meant different things to me.
At moments they have opened up new horizons, at others they have been a huge support.
Often, I have shared treasured books with my family and friends but sometimes I have kept the
reading experience to a private pleasure.
But every time I open a new book, it is with the keen anticipation of embarking on a new
emotional and intellectual journey.
So I was not surprised to read a new research report, commissioned by Galaxy which sponsors
Quick Reads, revealing that adults who spend just 30 minutes a week reading are 20 per cent
more likely to be satisfied with their lives.
Amongst the many benefits experienced by regular readers were higher self-esteem and greater
self-acceptance.
In part this must be because reading, although paradoxically a solitary activity, actually helps us
feel less isolated.
One in four readers say that a book has helped them realise that other people have shared their
life experiences.

Readers also find it easier to make decisions and are 10 per cent more capable of planning and
prioritising.
Dr Josie Billington, who partnered with Quick Reads to produce the report, concludes that
this may be because readers are more able to recognise that difficulties and setback are
unavoidable aspects of human life.

It is not simply that we feel better about our own problems but that we have a greater capacity
for empathy.
With just 30 minutes of reading a week, two thirds of readers report a better understanding of
other peoples feelings.
Readers were also found to have a stronger and more engaged awareness of social issues and
of cultural diversity than non-readers.
Regular readers reported 57 per cent greater cultural awareness and 21 per cent more general
knowledge.
The stories and ideas contained in a book can open our minds and unite us with other cultures,
helping us to gain a deeper understanding and respect for them.
Books can also expand our minds, and readers reported higher levels of creativity than nonreaders.
This sense of connectedness extends beyond our immediate social circles.
The report found that readers were more comfortable with strangers, reporting not only that
they find it easier to start conversations but also find greater enjoyment in these interactions.
Reading can be a social as well as a solitary, activity and the act of reading immediately
makes us part of a wider community.
Quick Reads has long advocated reading for pleasure but with this report, Reading Between
the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure, we have for the first time tangible empirical
evidence of the benefits to our emotional health, empathy and wellbeing.
It is also revealing about the reasons why people have abandoned reading for pleasure.
Every time I open a new book, it is with the keen anticipation of embarking on a new
emotional and intellectual journey
Baroness Gail Rebuck

Sometimes it had to do with a disruptive life event; 14 per cent of lapsed readers cited
divorce, the death of a family member, ill health or loss of their job as the moment they
stopped reading.
While there is no panacea for personal tragedy, I believe reading can help you at such a time.
In fact, the report showed that readers were less likely to experience low moods or feelings of
depression if they read for 30 minutes a week.
But overwhelmingly the most common reason for giving up on books, blamed by 42 per cent
of the 16 million lapsed readers in the UK, was lack of time, perhaps because people saw
reading as an indulgence rather than a necessity in their lives.
Now of course I dont expect books to come before family or work but this report
demonstrates that reading for pleasure is a vital part of a balanced life.

As part of the research, 20 lapsed readers were recruited to take part in a reading challenge in
which they read a title of their choice from the Galaxy Quick Reads series for 20 minutes
every day for 10 days, keeping a daily diary of their mood and wellbeing.
Yvonne, aged 42, said that reading gives me the confidence, independence and time to
myself that I need in life.
Matt, aged 29, commented: I am so glad to be reading after reading for half an hour on my
lunch break today I felt happy, sharp and cheerful and the feeling lasted all afternoon.
Sarah aged 39 told researchers: I feel Im sleeping a lot better since Ive been reading and
also I feel a lot calmer.
Consider, if we were all to find just half an hour a week to read, what a collective difference
this could make both to us as individuals and to our society.
Which is why I believe Quick Reads is so important.
Apart from lapsed readers, one in six adults of working age in the UK struggle with reading
and might not be able to complete a shift report at work, worry that they have not understood
a letter from their childs school or struggle to apply for a bank account.
Their reasons for not reading are varied but they are often based on fear.
Some people say they find reading scary and intimidating, thinking books are not for them
or that they are difficult or boring.
This belief partly reflects a lack of suitable, simple reading material for pleasure exciting,
story-driven books in all genres.
It was to break down this barrier that, with the help of the whole publishing industry, we set
up Quick Reads.
Every year we commission a list of short books by bestselling authors which are full of the
action and emotion you would expect to find in any well-known authors work but limited to
100 pages and edited to reduce barriers for the less confident or lapsed reader.
This year, with Galaxys support, we have been able to produce an enviable list which
includes Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, Jojo Moyes and Sophie Hannah.
Since 2006 we have distributed over 4.7million books and registered over 3.9million library
loans.
Quick Reads ambition is to introduce or reacquaint as many adults as possible to the pure
pleasure and sense of wellbeing to be found within the covers of a great book.

Baroness Gail Rebuck, DBE is chair of Quick Reads and Penguin Random House UK.