reading educational books what health

Black Friday deals on TODAY: The best at Amazon, up to 71% off

• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show
• Black Friday
• TODAY Plaza

What are the benefits of reading books? A lot, actually

Love to curl up on the couch with a good book ? You aren’t alone.

According to a Gallup poll published in 2022, in 2021 Americans read roughly 12 books a year, amounting to around one a month. That number is the lowest it's been since Gallup began tracking Americans' reading habits back in 1990.

Whether the decline in reading books is the result of busy lifestyles or the lure of binge-watching the latest series on TV, the time has come to get back on the book bandwagon.

If the latest bestseller is collecting dust on your nightstand, knowing the benefits of reading might be just the motivation you need to pick it back up.

Of course, you can also join TODAY's own book club band leader, Jenna Bush Hager, in the new initiative " Streaking With Jenna " to get back on track because as readers already know, there's nothing quite like settling in a with a great book. Designed to build or bolster a reading habit, Streaking With Jenna encourages people to keep track of their reading streak in 2023.

Download a printable Streaking With Jenna calendar here .

"It's like a sanctuary," Maryanne Wolf, professor-in-residence at UCLA and director, Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice, tells TODAY.com.

"I have 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes in the evening after Netflix or whatever I've done in between a thousand emails," Wolf explains of her reading habit.

"And that helps center me, it helps remind me of the priorities of the day before, of the next day, and of that very moment."

From increasing your vocabulary and conversation skills to sleeping better and living longer, here are 10 scientific and psychological benefits of reading to inspire you to get back into the habit.

1) Reading might lengthen your lifespan

Good news, bookworms: Reading books might be part of the key to a long life.

A 2016 study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine found reading books can reduce mortality by up to 20%.

According to the researchers, "any level of book reading gave a significantly stronger survival advantage," particularly for adults 65 and older who "redirect leisure time" from watching TV into reading books.

The study also found that reading alone isn't enough — it's reading books that makes the difference. Books contributed to a "survival advantage that was significantly greater than that observed for reading newspapers or magazines," the authors noted.

2) Encourages empathy

Reading books can help us become more compassionate, empathetic people.

"We have more opportunity to deepen our insights, our epiphanies, our sense of our own best thoughts," explains Wolf. "It gives us more empathy, perspective — taking into other people's viewpoints, thoughts and feelings."

And there's science to back it up.

In a 2013 study published in "Science," researchers found that literary fiction, in particular, led to readers being better at understanding what other people were thinking and feeling, along with increasing their capacity for empathy.

Keep calm and read on!

• Books we can't wait to read in 2023
• A complete guide to Read With Jenna's book list
• Cozy up with one of these winter books

3) Helps lessen cognitive decline

Like the rest of your body, your brain needs exercise to help keep it working at its best. Reading books is one way to help keep your mind sharp.

"Various activities, including reading, that are seen as cognitively engaging are definitely associated with better brain health," Jonathan King, Ph.D., senior scientific advisor in the division of behavioral and social research at National Institute on Aging, tells TODAY.com.

While the jury is still out on if reading can prevent dementia, research suggests that older people who read more than those who don't appear to have a reduced risk of cognitive decline.

At the very least, King says that older adults who read more often generally have "larger vocabularies than younger adults because of all the reading experiences that they've done," which helps in obtaining "crystalized knowledge,"or things people have read about that they can put to use in their day-to-day lives.

4) Reduces stress

The American Psychological Association found in its 2022 annual survey on stress in America that a quarter of American adults feel that they're "too stressed to function."

High levels of stress are associated with a variety of physical and mental problems, making stress management essential to personal wellness.

Engaging in stress-relieving activities, like reading books, is an easy way to help keep cortisol levels down.

"Reading has been connected to meditation in terms of the way our brain processes our environment and our physiological state," Zoe Shaw , Psy.D., licensed psychotherapist and author of “A Year of Self-Care: Daily Practices and Inspiration for Caring for Yourself," tells TODAY.com.

"If you're sitting in a chair or laying in your bed and you're focusing on reading, your body can actually go into a type of meditative state," Shaw says. "So, you can get some of the benefits of meditating by reading."

Research backs this up, including a study that found 30 minutes of reading had the same ability to decrease stress as 30 minutes of yoga.

5) Improves critical thinking

Can reading make you smarter? In short, yes. Of course, it’s complicated and any number of things contribute to a person's overall knowledge and intelligence.

That said, a 1998 study concluded that reading "yields significant dividends for everyone."

In the study, those who were more "avid" readers, regardless of their overall abilities, were better able to answer various practical knowledge questions, like who their U.S. senators were and how many teaspoons equal one tablespoon, even if they weren't necessarily versed in those topics.

Reading can also improve critical thinking skills, Wolf tells TODAY.com.

"One of the great benefits is not just to the individual's insights; it's to the individual's ability to participate in democracy with a critical, empathic mind," she says.

6) Promotes self-care

If you've ever gotten lost in a book, then you can attest to this: Reading a book simply makes you feel good. Entertainment is as much of a perk of reading as all those positive psychological and scientific benefits.

Shaw says that, while they're engrossing in their own ways, TV, movies and scrolling through social media don't offer the same degree of escape and calm that reading a book provides.

"It's not as relaxing to our body to read on computers or devices," Shaw says, explaining that when you read a book, your brain comes up with images to accompany what you're reading about, engaging your creative mind while helping you relax at the same time.

"We're gaining knowledge and, to a certain extent, caring for ourselves because we are expanding our understanding of the world, of ourselves – and that is self-care," she continues.

7) Enhances conversation skills

According to a 2015 study , above-average readers had a much higher rate of vocabulary growth than average readers did.

"We know that the best way to help children learn to write, to help children with their vocabulary and increase their general academic performance is to read to them," Shaw says.

"It also works for us as adults. Our vocabulary is increased, our conversation skills are increased," she says. "More than that, we write better when we read more."

8) Improves sleep

Does your bedtime routine include a few minutes (or hours) of screen time?

If it does, chances are good that scrolling through Instagram or checking your email is negatively impacting your ability to sleep.

A 2020 study published in Nature and Science of Sleep found that using a mobile device for at least 30 minutes after turning off the lights resulted in poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and other sleep disturbances.

Reading a book before bed, however, has exactly the opposite effect.

"Reading can improve sleep," Shaw says. "It activates the frontal lobe, the limbic system, and it creates a relaxing cascade in our body."

In 2021, researchers studied reading and sleep patterns and found that, overall, reading a book in bed before sleeping led participants to feel their quality of sleep improved.

"It can help calm you and get you into that place much better than other types of activities," says Shaw.

9) Fosters connection

Divisiveness has been on the rise in recent years, leading to what many consider to be a disconnect between people and decline of community.

While every issue can't obviously be solved by reading a book, picking one up can be beneficial in helping close the gap.

"In this minute of our society in this tiny, strained, moment in human history, we need to have people have communication with each other," Wolf tells TODAY.com.

"Not just connects with friends and social media, but deeper forms of communication, so that we understand each other, even when we are by ourselves," she says.

"There is this amazing miracle that we can understand another if we give it time, without ever leaving our chair."

10) Provides time to recharge your batteries

Time with a book is also time for you .

"Reading forces you to spend time with yourself. It forces you to kind of isolate in a healthy way," she tells TODAY.com.

"There’s also this sense of self-comforting in the process of reading, which is different than on our devices," Shaw says and explains that when you use your phone or device as an escape, it's easy to be interrupted by notifications and other distractions.

"But usually when we choose to read a book, we’re taking specific space and time where we’re going to get more comfortable and just kind of hunker down with the book."

Sarah Lemire is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY based in New York City. She covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.

What time do store open on Black Friday? Store hours for Walmart, Target and more

Is CVS open on Thanksgiving? What to know about 2024 hours

225 inspirational quotes to motivate you each and every day

How to host and play a White Elephant gift exchange

When was the first Thanksgiving? The answer might surprise you

125 interesting facts to entertain adults and kids

Inspiration.

135 funny jokes that'll bring the house down

55 Friday quotes to celebrate the best day of the week

85 condolence messages to help you find the right words

When is Thanksgiving? What to know for 2024

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Diet & Nutrition
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

7 Surprising Health Benefits of Reading Every Day

• Longer Life
• Maintains Brain Function
• Reduces Stress
• Relax at Bedtime
• Access Health Info
• Boosts Intelligence
• Build Social Skills
• Ways to Read More

Reading has many positive health benefits. Reading every day may lead to a longer life, slower cognitive decline, improved sleep, reduced stress, and more.

What you are reading does not even matter. It could be a self-help book, a mystery, or a favorite science fiction series. Reading is an accessible activity. It requires no special equipment other than reading material, and you do not need to acquire a membership or subscription to read. You can do it outdoors, indoors, or in the privacy of your home.

Westend61 / Getty Images

1. Readers Live Longer

Reading might be the key to living longer . According to a 2016 study from researchers at the Yale University School of Public Health, reading books could reduce mortality by up to 20%. While reading in general can increase lifespan, the survival advantage was significantly higher for book readers than it was for those reading magazines and newspapers.

Reading fiction, in particular, was found most beneficial. This study found that reading fiction books for at least 30 minutes a day could add an average of two years to readers' lives.

That effect was still present even with controlling factors like sex, wealth, education, and health problems. The study's researchers suggest that using your imagination while reading fiction may help keep the mind active, which translates to health benefits conducive to a longer life.

2. Slows Cognitive Decline as You Age

Reading can protect against cognitive decline (reduced ability to  remember , reason, learn, and pay attention). Regular readers can maintain their cognitive abilities better as they age than those who do not read. They may have slower rates of memory loss and less decline in thinking skills. 

The proactive effect is mainly due to having cognitive reserve (resilience to cognitive decline or brain damage). The more you read or engage in brain-stimulating activities, the more cognitive reserve you have. That reserve may help to offset degenerative (age-related) changes or damage to the brain.

One 2021 study examined the effect of daily reading on cognitive decline and whether education level played any part. Researchers found that reading was a protective factor in later life. Frequent reading was associated with a reduced risk for cognitive decline in older adults of all education levels in the long term.

3. Reduces Stress

Reading can be a healthy way to unplug and escape from the stressors of daily life. Reading fiction, in particular, can improve your mental health and overall well-being. 

One 2022 PLoS One review of five studies evaluated the impact of exposure to fiction reading. The results of these studies showed that fiction reading had a positive and immediate impact on mood and emotions. It also had positive effects on memory and cognitive consolidation, which is the process in which the brain turns short-term memories into long-term memories. 

Reading has impacts beyond improved mood and well-being. It may also lead to improved mindfulness , optimism, happiness, and other positive emotions.

One study reported in 2022 looked at the importance of reading on mental health in a high school setting. This study examined the effects of story reading on both positive and negative indicators of mental health over time in 10th-grade students. In this study, 33 students were in a story-reading group, and 20 were in a control group. 

Results showed that the story-reading group improved in mindfulness, optimism, and happiness and reduced depression , anxiety , and negative emotions over five weeks. 

4. Helps You Relax at Bedtime

Reading before bed can offer great sleep benefits. It is a low-energy activity that can help you relax before you go to sleep. It may improve your sleep quality, promote longer sleep duration, and even relieve insomnia, as follows:

Improves Sleep Quality

One 2021 online study asked 496 participants to read a book in bed before going to sleep, and another 496 were asked not to read before sleeping. After a week, 42% of the readers reported improved sleep, while only 28% of the nonreaders reported improved sleep.

Improves Sleep Duration

Research shows that people who read before bed will wake up less and sleep longer than people who go to bed without reading. This is because reading, when part of a bedtime routine, can signal the brain that it is time to sleep.

It also promotes physical relaxation, where the heart slows and muscles become less tense, allowing the body to relax. Reading also calms the mind and reduces stress, improving sleep quality and potentially extending sleep duration. 

Relieves Insomnia

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which it is difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Regularly getting too little quality sleep can significantly impact mental and physical health. Research shows that reading before bed, along with insomnia treatments , can calm the mind and help you sleep better.

Reading a Book at Bedtime vs. Reading on a Screen

Reading a traditional book can be a better alternative to screen time. Spending time in front of a screen before bed exposes you to blue light, which negatively affects your sleep.

Research shows that reading on a blue light–emitting electronic device can disrupt sleep because it:

• Interferes with melatonin (a sleep hormone) production 
• Reduces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep , the stage of sleep associated with dreaming and memory consolidation
• Delays circadian rhythm , the body's 24-hour internal clock in the brain that controls alertness and sleepiness
• Keeps you awake longer
• Makes you less alert in the morning 

These findings mean that reading on a tablet or smartphone may have the opposite effect of reading. It could negatively affect both sleep quality and sleep duration. Limit your reading on your phone or tablet to daytime hours unless you have an e-reader that does not emit blue light . 

5. Helps You to Better Understand Health Information

People who read often are more comfortable reading about and understanding health information. This is called health literacy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health literacy can help prevent health problems, protect health information, and better manage health when problems arise.

When people have strong health literacy, they can read and understand information about health and make decisions about it. You can improve your health literacy by reading about your health and risk factors.

Don't be afraid or too embarrassed to ask your healthcare provider about things you do not understand. You can also ask for materials, such as handouts, photos, and diagrams, that can increase your understanding. 

6. Boosts Intelligence

Reading can boost your intelligence. The more you read, the more information you ingest. Reading is like exercise for the brain, and the more you use your brain, the better it functions. 

Research shows that reading can increase a person's vocabulary, which is linked to intelligence. One study reported in 2015 assessed written word-reading skills in fourth graders based on oral vocabulary collected from kindergarten and into the fourth, eighth, and 10th grades from a large sample group.

Testing looked at early word-reading skills and vocabulary growth rates. Results showed that above-average readers had advanced rates of vocabulary growth than average readers. 

Research has also found that the stronger your reading skills are in childhood, the more likely you are to improve your intelligence. A 2015 study found that children with better reading skills by age 7 scored higher on IQ tests compared to children with weaker reading skills.

7. Enhances Social Skills 

Reading can enhance your social skills because it gives you examples of social interaction to learn from. Research shows that people who read often have stronger social and behavioral skills compared to nonreaders.

Reading fiction, specifically, may also help adolescents become empathetic by giving them opportunities to understand what others think and feel. It may also promote self-confidence and assertiveness. 

A Word From Verywell

Research suggests that reading can have positive effects on mental and physical health, including sleep, cognition, stress, and lifespan. It is worthwhile to consider replacing phone scrolling with a book-reading habit.

How Can I More Enjoy Reading?

Despite the many health benefits of reading, most American adults do not read enough. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, 23% of adults in the United States had not read any part of a book in over 12 months.

Even if you have not been a reader in the past, it is never too late to take advantage of the many physical and mental health benefits of reading a good book.

Here are some ways you can read more:

Start Small

If you dislike reading book series or lengthy books, consider reading magazines, newspapers, and short-story collections. Reading shorter works can make reading seem less daunting. It may also encourage you to read longer works.

Set a Daily Goal

Aim to read a certain number of pages daily. You can start with a small goal, such as 10 to 20 pages a day, and move up gradually. Once you have established a routine, set a larger goal, such as reading a certain number of books yearly.

Reserve a Time to Read

It may help to set aside a specific part of your day to read. For example, reserve 15 to 20 minutes daily in the morning or evening to read.

Join a Book Club

If you can commit the time, consider joining a book club. This can be an excellent motivator for reading. It can also help you stay focused when discussing the reading experience with others. A book club can also be an opportunity to make new friends and participate in a fun activity.

Avoid Distractions

Try not to read with distractions, like loud music or your phone's alerts going off nearby. This way, you can pay full attention to what you are reading. If you cannot find a quiet place to read, consider wearing earplugs to shut out the noise.

Pick Books You Find Enjoyable

You get to read the book genres you like when reading for enjoyment. If you have no idea where to start, ask for recommendations from friends, family, coworkers, your local librarian, or a bookstore employee. Book clubs and blogs, like Goodreads, are also excellent resources for book suggestions. 

Reading is an easy way to improve physical and mental health. Benefits of reading every day include a longer life, reduced cognitive decline, improved sleep, stress management, and enhanced social skills. 

Reading is especially beneficial for children. Research shows that the stronger reading skills are in childhood, the more intelligent a person is likely to be. Even if you were not an avid reader in the past, it is never too late to start reading and reaping the benefits of reading. 

To start a new reading habit, start by carving out some time to read every day. You can start small by reading magazines and other shorter works. You may even consider joining a book club, which can help you to stay motivated and excited about reading. 

If you are not sure what to read, ask someone in your life for a recommendation, or check out book suggestions on Goodreads and other reading blogs. 

Bavishi A, Slade MD, Levy BR. A chapter a day: association of book reading with longevity .  Soc Sci Med . 2016;164:44-48. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014

Chang YH, Wu IC, Hsiung CA. Reading activity prevents long-term decline in cognitive function in older people: evidence from a 14-year longitudinal study .  Int Psychogeriatr . 2021;33(1):63-74. doi:10.1017/S1041610220000812

Carney J, Robertson C. Five studies evaluating the impact on mental health and mood of recalling, reading, and discussing fiction .  PLoS One . 2022;17(4):e0266323. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266323

Arslan G, Yıldırım M, Zangeneh M, Ak İ. Benefits of positive psychology-based story reading on adolescent mental health and well-being .  Child Indic Res . 2022;15(3):781-793. doi:10.1007/s12187-021-09891-4

Finucane E, O'Brien A, Treweek S, et al. Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep in comparison to not reading a book in bed? The People's Trial-an online, pragmatic, randomised trial .  Trials . 2021;22(1):873. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05831-3

Sleep Foundation. What are the different types of insomnia ? 

Chang AM, Aeschbach D, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA. Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness .  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 2015;112(4):1232-1237. doi:10.1073/pnas.1418490112

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding health literacy . 

Duff D, Tomblin JB, Catts H. The influence of reading on vocabulary growth: A case for a Matthew effect .  J Speech Lang Hear Res . 2015;58(3):853-864. doi:10.1044/2015_JSLHR-L-13-0310

Ritchie SJ, Bates TC, Plomin R. Does learning to read improve intelligence? A longitudinal multivariate analysis in identical twins from age 7 to 16 .  Child Dev . 2015;86(1):23-36. doi:10.1111/cdev.12272

Pew Research Center. Who doesn't read books in America?

By Lana Barhum Barhum is a freelance medical writer with 15 years of experience with a focus on living and coping with chronic diseases.

The Mental Health Benefits of Reading

Research shows that literature can help—from the clinic to the community..

Posted March 16, 2022 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• Bibliotherapy, the therapeutic use of select reading material, has been used to alleviate many different mental health challenges.
• Reading fiction has been found to improve one's social cognition and ability to empathize with others.
• New research finds that reading programs can support youth mental health through conversation and connection.

Despite recent controversies over which books should line the shelves of schools and libraries, there is little debate that literature expands the mind. But can the act of reading also improve our mental health and wellbeing?

Researchers are investigating the impact of reading experiences and reporting evidence of promising mental and social health benefits. Whether reading alone or with others, people are finding connection and meaning between the pages, giving their mental health a boost along the way. Now practitioners are exploring new models using the literary arts to support mental health in clinics, classrooms, and communities worldwide.

The Science-Backed Benefits of Reading

Getting wrapped up in a good book is good for our health.

The experience of being immersed or engaged while reading a story is called narrative absorption and serves as more than an innately pleasurable experience—it can also enhance our sense of wellbeing. Researchers believe that mentally transporting ourselves away from our physical surroundings can provide an escape or opportunity for meaningful contemplation .

Reading not only provides these opportunities, but it also helps us make sense of our worlds. In one neuroimaging study , participants who read more narrative fiction had greater activation of parts of the prefrontal cortex involved in perspective-taking when reading text containing social context. This greater activation may partially explain the correlation between lifetime reading and the ability to understand how people are thinking.

A good story tends to stick with you, too—and so do the benefits: The health impacts of reading last long after we put down the book, with some research showing reductions in depression symptoms persisting months or even years later in adults. And reading can not only help make life more worth living but is associated with living longer: One study found that older adults who regularly read books had a 20 percent reduction in mortality compared to those who did not read.

Bibliotherapy: An Accessible Treatment for Mental Health

Health practitioners use books and bibliotherapy to support the mental health of groups facing various challenges, including anxiety , depression, and grief . Though it can take on different forms, bibliotherapy typically involves the experience of reading, reflection, and discussion of specific literature with an individual therapist or in a group therapy setting, though a therapist is not always involved. Some research suggests that clients may benefit from bibliotherapy used in conjunction with more traditional cognitive behavioral therapy or grief counseling.

Although bibliotherapy’s efficacy requires more research, this intervention has already shown some promising results amongst people with different health concerns. Researchers have reported that shared reading experiences helped alleviate depressive symptoms for surgery patients , decreased cognitive and emotional symptoms in dementia patients , and improved cognitive and psychological functioning in patients with psychosis .

More recent research suggests that bibliotherapy could be a low-cost and accessible intervention to improve the mental health of healthcare workers and the general public living through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The systematic review cited the positive effects of bibliotherapy across 13 studies, indicating that the treatment helped to promote autonomy, giving people a sense of agency and control in their lives.

Reading Builds Bridges to Understanding Ourselves and Others

In a time of pronounced isolation and disconnection caused by the pandemic, reading fiction, in particular, may also help to foster greater empathy and social cognition .

One seminal study found that frequent fiction readers were associated with better social ability and that the tendency to get absorbed in a story correlated with higher empathy scores. These results have been replicated, and a meta-analysis found that lifetime exposure to narrative fiction was associated with more perspective-taking and empathy.

Reading and responding to fiction may foster young people’s understanding of human nature and their place in the world, especially if the texts are thematically relevant and coupled with writing activities that reflect on personal experiences related to the reading. Identifying with characters going through similar experiences can comfort readers , knowing that they are not alone in their struggles or pain.

A Citywide Reading Program to Support Youth Mental Health

Building upon these lessons, local organizations partnered to develop One Book Baltimore , a citywide reading program to support youth mental wellbeing and connection. A recently published study of the program in the Journal of Community Psychology found that literature can be used to generate productive conversations about complex and sensitive topics, like violence and mental health.

Researchers from the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) of Johns Hopkins University evaluated the results of the 2019 program, in which 10,000 seventh- and eighth-grade Baltimore City Public School students read the same award-winning novel, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Reynolds is currently the Library of Congress’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

“Long Way Down” powerfully portrays youth violence and its consequences through its teenage protagonist, Will.

The subject matter is familiar to many enrolled in the One Book Baltimore program: In surveys before and after the program, half of the students reported that they or a close family member had directly experienced violence.

“Literature, like many art forms, helps us talk about difficult or sensitive issues, and it gives us a starting point for new conversations,” said Tasha Golden, Ph.D., director of research at IAM Lab and lead author of the study. “At a time when young people are suffering and seeking support — from their communities and from one another — we have to consider how the arts can help generate connection, creativity and dialogue.”

The pandemic has exacerbated social isolation and rates of mental illness , particularly in youth populations . Program leaders developed the One Book Baltimore intervention to help mitigate the harmful effects of isolation that often accompany anxiety, depression or trauma .

The new research found that reading Long Way Down influenced how the middle-schoolers thought about violence, with a greater effect on those who had personal experiences with violence. The study also reported that students who read the novel in full had more conversations about violence with their friends and family. After the program, almost 60% of students reported that they wanted more opportunities to discuss violence and peace with their peers.

The study also makes recommendations on implementing the program in other places. Dr. Golden explained, "This is a way to explore new mental health supports for young people. The model, which draws upon schools, libraries, and literature, could work in any community."

Written and reported by IAM Lab Communications Specialist Richard Sima . Richard received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins and is a science writer living in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bavishi, A., Slade, M. D., & Levy, B. R. (2016). A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity. Social Science & Medicine, 164, 44-48.

Golden, T. L., Sima, R., Roebuck, G., Gupta, S., & Magsamen, S. (2022). Generating youth dialogue through the literary arts: A citywide youth health collaboration in the US. Journal of community psychology.

Gualano, M. R., Bert, F., Martorana, M., Voglino, G., Andriolo, V., Thomas, R., ... & Siliquini, R. (2017). The long-term effects of bibliotherapy in depression treatment: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Clinical psychology review, 58, 49-58.

Kuijpers, M. M. (2018). Bibliotherapy in the age of digitization. First Monday.

Latchem, J. M., & Greenhalgh, J. (2014). The role of reading on the health and well-being of people with neurological conditions: a systematic review. Aging & Mental Health, 18(6), 731-744.

Mar, R. A., Oatley, K., Hirsh, J., Dela Paz, J., & Peterson, J. B. (2006). Bookworms versus nerds: Exposure to fiction versus non-fiction, divergent associations with social ability, and the simulation of fictional social worlds. Journal of research in personality, 40(5), 694-712.

Monroy-Fraustro, D., Maldonado-Castellanos, I., Aboites-Molina, M., Rodríguez, S., Sueiras, P., Altamirano-Bustamante, N. F., ... & Altamirano-Bustamante, M. M. (2021). Bibliotherapy as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to enhance mental health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods systematic review and bioethical meta-analysis. Frontiers in public health, 9, 42.

Mumper, M. L., & Gerrig, R. J. (2017). Leisure reading and social cognition: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 11(1), 109.

Schrijvers, M., Janssen, T., Fialho, O., & Rijlaarsdam, G. (2019). Gaining insight into human nature: A review of literature classroom intervention studies. Review of Educational Research, 89(1), 3-45.

Tamir, D. I., Bricker, A. B., Dodell-Feder, D., & Mitchell, J. P. (2016). Reading fiction and reading minds: The role of simulation in the default network. Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, 11(2), 215-224.

Troscianko, E. T. (2018). Fiction-reading for good or ill: eating disorders, interpretation and the case for creative bibliotherapy research. Medical Humanities, 44(3), 201-211.

The International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics is a multidisciplinary research-to-practice initiative at Johns Hopkins University that is accelerating the field of neuroarts through the study of neuroaesthetics.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Thanks for visiting! GoodRx is not available outside of the United States. If you are trying to access this site from the United States and believe you have received this message in error, please reach out to [email protected] and let us know.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

9 Benefits of Reading Print Books, According to Science

See how reading enhances your health and happiness.

Abigail Wise is a writer and editor with over two decades of experience in print and digital media. Highlights: * As associate editor at Real Simple, she contributed health and fitness articles and ran the magazine's media channels and campaigns * Was senior editor at REI for a year * Co-founder Adventures in Wikipedia, group that organizes the writing of Wikipedia profiles of outdoorsy women * Became online managing editor at Outdoors Magazine, and worked her way up to her current position of digital managing director * Freelance writer for Real Simple, Conde Nast Traveler, and Runner's World

Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French.

Whether your to-be-read stack is full of classic books or nonexistent, you should know that there are many benefits of reading—and reading physical, printed books has its advantages. There's nothing like the smell of old books or the crack of a new one's spine, and it turns out that diving into a page-turner can enrich your health and happiness.

Although more people own e-books and subscribe to services like Audible on Amazon, 65 percent of U.S. adults report reading a print book. Here, we share science-backed reasons to read a print book and ideas for continuing the habit as an adult.

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.

Exposure to vocabulary through reading (particularly reading children's books ) not only leads to higher scores on reading tests but also higher scores on general intelligence tests for children. Plus, stronger early reading skills may mean higher intelligence later in life.

Boosts Brainpower

Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can also actually increase your brainpower. Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system , reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout. With age comes a decline in memory and brain function , but reading may help slow the process, keeping minds sharper longer.

Makes 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 readers understand what others are thinking by reading other people's emotions. 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.

Helps You Better Understand the 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. So to reap the benefits of a good read, opt for the kind with physical pages.

Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's

Reading puts your brain to work , and that's a very good thing. Those 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 downtime on less stimulating activities. Research suggests that exercising the brain may help because inactivity increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Helps 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 , reducing 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​ said.

Improves Sleep

Reading a physical book before bed helps you relax more than zoning out in front of a screen. Screens like e-readers and tablets can keep you awake longer and even impair 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. Instead of your phone or tablet, reach for a literal page-turner before switching off the light.

Increases Your Life Span

You may be surprised to learn that research shows reading printed books can help you live longer. People who read books (as opposed to other content) showed a 20% reduced risk of death. So while reading is generally beneficial, it seems reading books—specifically printed books—has an advantage.

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.

What does this mean? Storytime offers a good way to spark an interest in reading, leading to a life-long hobby. Seeing adults read and having adults read to them can help children gain a love for reading that lasts a lifetime.

Tips for Reading More—and Enjoying It

To reap the benefits of reading, you have to, well, read. But as adults, we often feel there's not enough time in our hectic schedules to pick up a book. Try these tips for adding more reading time to your day or weekly routine.

Choose Shorter Books

Picking up a hefty novel 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

Devote a chunk 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.

Establish 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 in a sitting. Maybe your goal is to finish a book once a month. Be realistic when setting goals so they match your routine and you can more easily achieve them.

Keep a Book in the Car

Undoubtedly, there are moments when you find yourself sitting in your car waiting—whether waiting for your child to leave school or for an appointment to begin. While you definitely should never read while driving, if you're parked and have some extra time, having a book accessible can help you pass the time.

Faverio, Michelle, and Andrew Perrin. “ Three-In-Ten Americans Now Read E-Books .” Pew Research Center , 6 Jan. 2022, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/06/three-in-ten-americans-now-read-e-books/. Accessed 3 May 2024.

Ritchie, S.J., Bates, T.C. and Plomin, R. (2015), Does Learning to Read Improve Intelligence? A Longitudinal Multivariate Analysis in Identical Twins From Age 7 to 16 . Child Dev, 86: 23-36.  https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12272

Society for Research in Child Development. (2014, July 24). Stronger early reading skills predict higher intelligence later .  ScienceDaily . Retrieved May 3, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140724094209.htm

Stine-Morrow, Elizabeth A. L., et al. “ The Effects of Sustained Literacy Engagement on Cognition and Sentence Processing among Older Adults .” Frontiers in Psychology , vol. 13, 10 July 2022, www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923795, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923795. Accessed 3 May 2024.

David Comer Kidd, Emanuele Castano, Reading Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind . Science 342, 377-380 (2013). DOI: 10.1126/science.1239918

Naomi S. Baron, Know what? How digital technologies undermine learning and remembering , Journal of Pragmatics , Volume 175, 2021, Pages 27-37, ISSN 0378-2166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2021.01.011.

Friedland RP, Fritsch T, Smyth KA, et al. Patients with Alzheimer's disease have reduced activities in midlife compared with healthy control-group members . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(6):3440-5. doi:10.1073/pnas.061002998

Wilson, R. S., et al. “ Life-Span Cognitive Activity, Neuropathologic Burden, and Cognitive Aging .” Neurology , vol. 81, no. 4, 3 July 2013, pp. 314–321, n.neurology.org/content/81/4/314, https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e31829c5e8a. Accessed 3 May 2024.

Mak HW, Fluharty M, Fancourt D. Predictors and impact of arts engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: analyses of data from 19,384 adults in the COVID-19 Social Study . Front Psychol. 2021;12:626263. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626263

Lewis, D. (2009), Galaxy Stress Research. Mindlab International, Sussex University, UK.

Twenge JM, Hisler GC, Krizan Z. Associations between screen time and sleep duration are primarily driven by portable electronic devices: evidence from a population-based study of U.S. children ages 0-17 . Sleep Med. 2019;56:211-218. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.11.009

Falbe J, Davison KK, Franckle RL, et al. Sleep duration, restfulness, and screens in the sleep environment .  Pediatrics . 2015;135(2):e367-e375. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-2306

Bavishi A, Slade M, Levy B. THE SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE OF READING BOOKS .  Innov Aging . 2017;1(Suppl 1):477. Published 2017 Jun 30. doi:10.1093/geroni/igx004.1696

Scholastic. “ Kids and Family Reading Report .” Scholastic.com , 2023, www.scholastic.com/content/corp-home/kids-and-family-reading-report.html. Accessed 3 May 2024.

Related Articles