There are so many benefits of reading; it allows me to unwind and detach from my day to day environment. I am coming to the end of a university career that has been built around books: novels, essay collections, criticism, and theory. This has not stopped me, however, from choosing to spend my free time with my nose buried in a work of fiction. The benefits of reading and prolonged exposure to literature are numerous, but here are four of the best, in no particular order:
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It improves your vocabulary
Consistent exposure to various writing styles through reading books – some more prolix than others – ensures that the reader comes into contact with a vast range of new and interesting words. One way to maximise this effect is to take a note of any unfamiliar words, write down their definition and try to incorporate them into your daily speech.
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Reading offers a higher-quality entertainment alternative to television and the Internet
Whenever I worry about the damage done to my attention span by my tendency to flick through channels on the television and articles on the Internet, I turn off all technology, find a comfortable place to sit, and open up a book. Hours go by with my mind focused only on the book at hand, and I feel as though it has been time well spent – as opposed to feeling guilty for wasting time without focusing in detail on anything at all.
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Escapism
One of the most enticing aspects of reading is the escape it provides from my reality, and the often overwhelming negativity, of everyday life. There is such a vast range of genres to choose from that you will not have to look far to find an enticing read. And it doesn’t even have to be fiction! It is just as easy to get lost in a history of the Ottoman Empire, for example, as it is in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world.
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Development of a moral sense
Finally, the range of perspectives offered up in fictional tales enhances the development of a solid ethical sense in the reader. Philosophers like Martha Nussbaum and literary theorists like Stanley Fish have devoted many scholarly works to this aspect of literature, and I have found Henry James, in particular, to write the kind of fiction that cuts deep to the heart of the matter.
If you do not know where to start, visit your local library or bookstore and seek the advice of someone who knows their books. All of a sudden, you might find that long trips on any kind of transport become occasions to look forward to, rather than ones to dread!
Have you discovered any other benefits of reading? Do you prefer fiction or non fiction books?
by Jennifer S, Private Tutor in London
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