From videos and podcasts, to webpages and short articles on the internet (like this one), there are countless mediums with potential to expand your mind. While these mediums may provide useful information, they are often quick bursts of knowledge, or articulated in the moment as in videos or podcasts. Conversely, most books have been reviewed, planned and researched for extended periods of time, providing an in-depth analysis on topics to ensure you can grasp a deeper understanding. Through endeavouring to read more, I have recognised a number of benefits to reading books that are useful in many aspects of life.
1. Reading, Writing & Speaking
Practice makes perfect. After reading many books I have become familiar with words and phrases I don’t often use, as well as new ones. This familiarity has translated to rapid word recognition and increased reading speed. I feel that my everyday vocabulary has expanded with an ability to clearly articulate myself with less thought. This translates into improved conversational and writing skills, which can be useful in both your personal and professional life.
2. Explore the World
One could argue that there is no need to read books when there are so many alternative ways to learn about the world, for example through travel or life experiences. Many non-fiction books may provide a technical understanding of a particular phenomenon, or a biography could provide insight into why an individual made a particular decision. Fiction books may be inspired by real world events, or set in real geographical locations, and can fill your imagination with endless possibilities. Books provide countless domains to explore the world through a multitude of lenses.
3. Storytelling
Admittedly, I tend to lean towards non-fiction over fiction books, but I strive to balance this more evenly. Naturally, reading fiction books may stimulate your creativity, and inspire your ability to re-tell events in an exciting manner. But I have also recognised a pattern in engaging non-fiction books, they also tell a story. I found that these books will first set the scene, and proceed to describe the information though a turn of events instead of simply stating the facts. Whether you are presenting dry content at work, or describing your weekend to friends, your ability to tell a story will captivate your audience and communicate your message more effectively.
4. Develop Empathy
How do you learn to be empathetic? From my personal experience, I found it stems from the ability and desire to understand another individual’s situation. I found that both fiction and non-fiction books can develop your empathetic side in different ways. In fiction books, you grow with the characters, feel their triumphs and their disappointments, you understand the reasoning behind their actions, and live through the consequences of their decisions. Non-fiction books create awareness and understanding of events or situations around the world that you would have otherwise been oblivious to. By understanding the world, other people’s predicaments, and putting yourself in their shoes, you learn to be more empathetic and develop as an person.
5. Knowledge
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr Suess perfectly captured the essence of my reading journey. It should be apparent by now that reading will teach you more than the information or story being conveyed. From a scientific perspective, your brain links each new piece of information with current knowledge and personal experiences. This effect compounds as you read more, and establishes an opportunity for new insights. By reading about a variety of subjects, I am able to draw deeper connections and gain different perspectives between unrelated topics.
I hope these benefits of reading have inspired you to read more and read widely. No matter your interests or career vocation, reading will have profound impacts on your personal and professional life. Learning about the world is a lifelong journey, and reading books is a perfect way to do it. If you want to discover the books I have learnt from recently, check out my latest book reviews and articles.
Books for Thought 