• Importance Of Reading Essay

Importance of Reading Essay

500+ words essay on reading.

Reading is a key to learning. It’s a skill that everyone should develop in their life. The ability to read enables us to discover new facts and opens the door to a new world of ideas, stories and opportunities. We can gather ample information and use it in the right direction to perform various tasks in our life. The habit of reading also increases our knowledge and makes us more intellectual and sensible. With the help of this essay on the Importance of Reading, we will help you know the benefits of reading and its various advantages in our life. Students must go through this essay in detail, as it will help them to create their own essay based on this topic.

Importance of Reading

Reading is one of the best hobbies that one can have. It’s fun to read different types of books. By reading the books, we get to know the people of different areas around the world, different cultures, traditions and much more. There is so much to explore by reading different books. They are the abundance of knowledge and are best friends of human beings. We get to know about every field and area by reading books related to it. There are various types of books available in the market, such as science and technology books, fictitious books, cultural books, historical events and wars related books etc. Also, there are many magazines and novels which people can read anytime and anywhere while travelling to utilise their time effectively.

Benefits of Reading for Students

Reading plays an important role in academics and has an impactful influence on learning. Researchers have highlighted the value of developing reading skills and the benefits of reading to children at an early age. Children who cannot read well at the end of primary school are less likely to succeed in secondary school and, in adulthood, are likely to earn less than their peers. Therefore, the focus is given to encouraging students to develop reading habits.

Reading is an indispensable skill. It is fundamentally interrelated to the process of education and to students achieving educational success. Reading helps students to learn how to use language to make sense of words. It improves their vocabulary, information-processing skills and comprehension. Discussions generated by reading in the classroom can be used to encourage students to construct meanings and connect ideas and experiences across texts. They can use their knowledge to clear their doubts and understand the topic in a better way. The development of good reading habits and skills improves students’ ability to write.

In today’s world of the modern age and digital era, people can easily access resources online for reading. The online books and availability of ebooks in the form of pdf have made reading much easier. So, everyone should build this habit of reading and devote at least 30 minutes daily. If someone is a beginner, then they can start reading the books based on the area of their interest. By doing so, they will gradually build up a habit of reading and start enjoying it.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Importance of Reading Essay

What is the importance of reading.

1. Improves general knowledge 2. Expands attention span/vocabulary 3. Helps in focusing better 4. Enhances language proficiency

What is the power of reading?

1. Develop inference 2. Improves comprehension skills 3. Cohesive learning 4. Broadens knowledge of various topics

How can reading change a student’s life?

1. Empathy towards others 2. Acquisition of qualities like kindness, courtesy

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Value of reading essay 8 models

  • English essay
  • February 25, 2018

Value of reading essay

Value of reading essay with a lot of information on the importance of reading for the individual and society and how it opens the horizons in front of the minds to think and learn what they have not learned before. Reading is the food of the soul and the key to knowledge and culture. All of that you’ll find here in Value of reading essay.

  • Value of reading essay

Reading is the first source of knowledge of different cultures and civilizations and the benefit of the experience of previous nations. All of that you’ll find here in Value of reading essay.

Reading is the first and best source of knowledge, the strongest weapon any individual or society can ever have. Reading enables man to acquire the experience of others, which he can not acquire even if he has lived thousands of years .

Abbas Mahmoud al-Akkad said: “Reading adds to the age of man other ages”.  Reading allows you to know the knowledge and experiences that have passed on humans since the beginning of writing and blogging and the experiences they gained from them.

 The book is the only friend who can not betray you at all or lie to you, so there is no better friend to build your experience on his advice.

Conscious reading benefit the individual and society in general. If we wanted to see how the individual benefits from reading,  We all agree on the knowledge gained by the reading of the individual and the various sciences that he learns through reading, which we do not know when will benefit us.

Even if we do not use this information directly from reading, it helps us connect and understand the universe better and wider.

We must also know that knowledge is the only thing that a person can not lose, It is possible for a person to be exposed to a situation in which he loses his job, his money or even his family and body, But knowledge is the only thing that can not leave a person.

If we were to give an example it will be the physicist Steve Hawking, we would admit that anyone exposed to what happened to him would lose hope in life and be at the bottom of society.

But what made Steve Hawking one of the greatest personalities in the whole world was his knowledge he first acquired by reading.

Value of reading

The value of reading varies from person to person. The scientific researcher can make reading more valuable and important and add new research and discoveries to it.

The student can make reading valuable by memorizing and understanding its content and reusing it in society. Also, the ordinary person can enlighten his mind and improve his morals and qualities.

Therefore, the value of reading may be different according to the person, but it is in any case very important, and helps and enlightens the mind and improves humanity, whether in the aspects of progress and learning, or from the educational aspect.

Therefore, reading cannot end or become extinct, like many things, because it is a cornerstone of our development and all nations know that and know the importance of reading.

Value of reading essay 200 words

The value of reading is great and invaluable. Reading can change an individual’s life and provide him with many opportunities in life, whether to succeed in his work by expanding his horizons and informing him of more details and information, or by acquiring new, modern and advanced skills and methods that someone else has access to.

It can be said that all ancient civilizations followed the method of writing in transmitting civilization and its history to future generations.

And by reading these civilizations, we were able to develop and progress in terms of those before us, while preserving the customs and traditions of our peoples, and preserving identity.

Reading continuously can improve the level of thought for the average person, help him to understand the picture more, and increase self-confidence with improvement in speaking and addressing, because it always activates the sentences and terms in your mind, which makes your mind always alert and active.

Also, reading has a great value in increasing the urbanization of peoples and reducing barbarism. As it is said in many proverbs, knowledge is light, and ignorance is darkness.

Where science is described as a light that enlightens the mind, improves morals, and helps man to civilize and act rationally and with greater responsibility towards himself or towards members of his family and society.

Therefore, many believe that reading is invaluable and indispensable until people advance in their civilization and development, and until many peoples and civilizations adhere to their customs and traditions so as not to lose their identity.

The value of reading essay

Reading has a very great value because it nourishes the mind and soul, makes a person more rational and civilized, and makes him more aware, and less dangerous to society, on the contrary, it makes him more integrated and smooth and has a prior vision of many things.

In addition to the value of reading educational, scientific or historical articles, which make him familiar with many skills, tips or recipes.

Which makes it more advanced and has many scientific solutions that others have reached and was able to benefit from by reading the article or a book.

Therefore, continuous reading is considered food for the mind and soul, and a person is not satisfied with it, no matter how old he gets, he will continue to learn, benefit and develop until the last day of his life.

Therefore, I love reading a lot and I like to go back to some articles and research on many things that I have to express my opinion on or that to talk about them and I am ignorant of many aspects of them. This makes me very ready to speak with confidence and give many different models that show the extent of my experience of what I am talking about.

Essay on value of reading

A few years ago, I was suffering from a problem of lack of self-confidence, and I worry a lot when others talk about anything around me, and I find myself preferring to remain silent and not speak so as not to embarrass myself.

But I managed to overcome this problem by reading a lot. I found myself familiar with a lot of information, and I had a good background on many things. I have many sentences and expressions that I can use in conversation.

Reading may have a different value to them, but for me it was a good motivation to gain confidence in myself and integrate with others.

It also helped in increasing my awareness, and I became more familiar with the personalities of others and the extent of their influence on those around them, and how to deal with them.

Besides, I was able to excel in the study due to my access to a lot of historical or geographical information. This helped me a lot in absorbing many lessons, knowing the purpose of them, or knowing their events in advance.

I would very much like to continue reading, especially reading from paper books, not electronic ones. This is because I feel that paper books contain more information and focus, unlike reading from the phone, I am busy talking to friends or busy with many other things, I may be distracted and not pay attention to what I read.

Essay on the value of reading

Reading is one of the things that contributed to the progress of mankind, and made them more humane and advanced. This is because it contains self-discipline, development and education.

The more education is integrated into a society of progress and development and becomes more understanding and rational, and the mind becomes what governs their behavior and character.

The more education is lacking in a society, the mind becomes unused, and the action becomes from the body, which helps in increasing violence and dangerous actions.

Therefore, education and reading are very important at the beginning of the establishment of any society. After that, it plays many roles, including gaining self-confidence due to exposure to many and varied topics, increasing awareness, broad knowledge of many things, such as knowing yourself, or knowing others and how to deal with them, including cultural and entertainment books, and other books.

Whenever the person’s progress in education increased, his social and literary status increased with him. This requires him to study and continue reading, so that he is aware of all the things that surround him.

Value of reading short essay

Many people are ignorant of the value of reading, especially those who live in the 21st century. They do not realize how many nations have risen, advanced and become great, thanks to the foundation of their people on education, and their distance from ignorance.

Which led to the reduction of intolerance and violence, and their people became educated because of reading, and they are good at dealing and integrating into society, and they can progress and give to the state and society.  All because of reading and education, which served as a beacon that helped him on the right path.

In the 21st century, we can see the impact of reading on people from their behavior, and their reactions in many situations.

Always the person who tends to read regularly, starts the conversation rationally and logically. We find a person who is uneducated or who cannot read, tends to physical behavior more than rationality and talking, in addition to his ignorance of many things that surround him, and he does not have the ability to speak fluently.

This is considered one of the benefits of reading, which is providing the person with many important and useful information that makes him very confident in himself, and he has many means that help him to talk or persuade.

Value of reading essay 150 words

Reading is a beacon for every person who wants to reach safety, as it provides a person with many of the things he needs from childhood to old age.

The deeper a person reads, the more he is able to benefit from it and progress and integrate into society more, and the conversation with him becomes more useful than others.

He now owns many theories and matters that have been recorded for his predecessors, which represent a good reference to begin with and lack nothing but applying on the ground at the present time, how much they can be developed according to the time or environment in which he lives.

We can also see the role of reading in different societies and how they were able to benefit from it, develop and transfer industrial and commercial experiences.

And how it was the reason for establishing projects, or learning one of the trades that became a main source of income for many people.

It also helps many groups to develop and learn many new experiences, such as doctors, and other people whose educational life does not end no matter how much they advance in life. It is an important reason for their progress and development.

In this way, we have presented to you the value of reading essay, and you can read more through the following link:

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Essays About Reading: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas

As a writer, you love to read and talk to others about reading books. Check out some examples of essays about reading and topic ideas for your essay.

Many people fall in love with good books at an early age, as experiencing the joy of reading can help transport a child’s imagination to new places. Reading isn’t just for fun, of course—the importance of reading has been shown time and again in educational research studies.

If you love to sit down with a good book, you likely want to share your love of reading with others. Reading can offer a new perspective and transport readers to different worlds, whether you’re into autobiographies, books about positive thinking, or stories that share life lessons.

When explaining your love of reading to others, it’s important to let your passion shine through in your writing. Try not to take a negative view of people who don’t enjoy reading, as reading and writing skills are tougher for some people than others.

Talk about the positive effects of reading and how it’s positively benefitted your life. Offer helpful tips on how people can learn to enjoy reading, even if it’s something that they’ve struggled with for a long time. Remember, your goal when writing essays about reading is to make others interested in exploring the world of books as a source of knowledge and entertainment.

Now, let’s explore some popular essays on reading to help get you inspired and some topics that you can use as a starting point for your essay about how books have positively impacted your life.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

Examples Of Essays About Reading

  • 1. The Book That Changed My Life By The New York Times
  • 2. I Read 150+ Books in 2 Years. Here’s How It Changed My Life By Anangsha Alammyan
  • 3. How My Diagnosis Improved My College Experience By Blair Kenney

4. How ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ Saved Me By Isaac Fitzgerald

5. catcher in the rye: that time a banned book changed my life by pat kelly, topic ideas for essays about reading, 1. how can a high school student improve their reading skills, 2. what’s the best piece of literature ever written, 3. how reading books from authors of varied backgrounds can provide a different perspective, 4. challenging your point of view: how reading essays you disagree with can provide a new perspective.

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1.  The Book That Changed My Life  By  The New York Times

“My error the first time around was to read “Middlemarch” as one would a typical novel. But “Middlemarch” isn’t really about plot and dialogue. It’s all about character, as mediated through the wise and compassionate (but sharply astute) voice of the omniscient narrator. The book shows us that we cannot live without other people and that we cannot live with other people unless we recognize their flaws and foibles in ourselves.”  The New York Times

In this collection of reader essays, people share the books that have shaped how they see the world and live their lives. Talking about a life-changing piece of literature can offer a new perspective to people who tend to shy away from reading and can encourage others to pick up your favorite book.

2.  I Read 150+ Books in 2 Years. Here’s How It Changed My Life  By Anangsha Alammyan

“Consistent reading helps you develop your  analytical thinking skills  over time. It stimulates your brain and allows you to think in new ways. When you are  actively engaged  in what you’re reading, you would be able to ask better questions, look at things from a different perspective, identify patterns and make connections.” Anangsha Alammyan

Alammyan shares how she got away from habits that weren’t serving her life (such as scrolling on social media) and instead turned her attention to focus on reading. She shares how she changed her schedule and time management processes to allow herself to devote more time to reading, and she also shares the many ways that she benefited from spending more time on her Kindle and less time on her phone.

3.  How My Diagnosis Improved My College Experience  By Blair Kenney

“When my learning specialist convinced me that I was an intelligent person with a reading disorder, I gradually stopped hiding from what I was most afraid of—the belief that I was a person of mediocre intelligence with overambitious goals for herself. As I slowly let go of this fear, I became much more aware of my learning issues. For the first time, I felt that I could dig below the surface of my unhappiness in school without being ashamed of what I might find.” Blair Kenney

Reading does not come easily to everyone, and dyslexia can make it especially difficult for a person to process words. In this essay, Kenney shares her experience of being diagnosed with dyslexia during her sophomore year of college at Yale. She gave herself more patience, grew in her confidence, and developed techniques that worked to improve her reading and processing skills.

“I took that book home to finish reading it. I’d sit somewhat uncomfortably in a tree or against a stone wall or, more often than not, in my sparsely decorated bedroom with the door closed as my mother had hushed arguments with my father on the phone. There were many things in the book that went over my head during my first time reading it. But a land left with neither Rhyme nor Reason, as I listened to my parents fight, that I understood.” Isaac Fitzgerald

Books can transport a reader to another world. In this essay, Fitzgerald explains how Norton Juster’s novel allowed him to escape a difficult time in his childhood through the magic of his imagination. Writing about a book that had a significant impact on your childhood can help you form an instant connection with your reader, as many people hold a childhood literature favorite near and dear to their hearts.

“From the first paragraph my mind was blown wide open. It not only changed my whole perspective on what literature could be, it changed the way I looked at myself in relation to the world. This was heavy stuff. Of the countless books I had read up to this point, even the ones written in first person, none of them felt like they were speaking directly to me. Not really anyway.” Pat Kelly

Many readers have had the experience of feeling like a book was written specifically for them, and in this essay, Kelly shares that experience with J.D. Salinger’s classic American novel. Writing about a book that felt like it was written specifically for you can give you the chance to share what was happening in your life when you read the book and the lasting impact that the book had on you as a person.

There are several topic options to choose from when you’re writing about reading. You may want to write about how literature you love has changed your life or how others can develop their reading skills to derive similar pleasure from reading.

Topic ideas for essays about reading

Middle and high school students who struggle with reading can feel discouraged when, despite their best efforts, their skills do not improve. Research the latest educational techniques for boosting reading skills in high school students (the research often changes) and offer concrete tips (such as using active reading skills) to help students grow.

It’s an excellent persuasive essay topic; it’s fun to write about the piece of literature you believe to be the greatest of all time. Of course, much of this topic is a matter of opinion, and it’s impossible to prove that one piece of literature is “better” than another. Write your essay about how the piece of literature you consider the best positive affected your life and discuss how it’s impacted the world of literature in general.

The world is full of many perspectives and points of view, and it can be hard to imagine the world through someone else’s eyes. Reading books by authors of different gender, race, or socioeconomic status can help open your eyes to the challenges and issues others face. Explain how reading books by authors with different backgrounds has changed your worldview in your essay.

It’s fun to read the information that reinforces viewpoints that you already have, but doing so doesn’t contribute to expanding your mind and helping you see the world from a different perspective. Explain how pushing oneself to see a different point of view can help you better understand your perspective and help open your eyes to ideas you may not have considered.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our round-up of essay topics about education .

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Essay on Importance of Reading Books 150 Words

Books have been our companions for centuries, offering knowledge, entertainment, and a window to different worlds. In this essay, I will argue that reading books is of the utmost importance. It is not just a pastime but a valuable source of information, a means of expanding our horizons, and a tool for developing crucial skills.

Knowledge and Learning

Reading books is one of the most effective ways to acquire knowledge. According to research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, reading boosts vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Books cover a vast array of subjects, from history to science to literature. When we read, we learn about the world and discover new ideas. Books are like treasure troves of wisdom, waiting to be explored.

Vocabulary Enhancement

Reading enhances our vocabulary. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that regular readers have larger vocabularies and better language skills. When we encounter new words in books, we expand our linguistic abilities. This improved vocabulary not only helps us communicate more effectively but also boosts our confidence in writing and speaking.

Imagination and Creativity

Books stimulate our imagination and creativity. Unlike movies or video games, where everything is presented visually, books invite us to envision the story and characters in our minds. This imaginative exercise strengthens our creative thinking. A study in the journal “Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts” suggests that reading fiction can enhance creative problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, the importance of reading books cannot be overstated. Books are portals to knowledge, language enrichment, and creative worlds. They nurture empathy, improve understanding, and foster a love for lifelong learning. Reading books sharpens our concentration, reduces stress, and enhances our overall well-being.

Also Check: The Essay on Essay: All you need to know

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Reading Books — The Benefits of Growing up and Reading Books

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The Benefits of Growing Up and Reading Books

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Published: Aug 14, 2018

Words: 911 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Read and grow: my literary journey.

  • Mol, S. E., Bus, A. G., & de Jong, M. T. (2009). Interactive book reading in early education: A tool to stimulate print knowledge as well as oral language. Review of Educational Research, 79(2), 979-1007.
  • Morrison, F. J., & Griffith, E. M. (2019). Building attention, memory, and early reading skills through interactive shared book reading. In Shared Book Reading (pp. 167-190). Routledge.
  • Krashen, S. D. (2004). The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research (2nd ed.). Libraries Unlimited.
  • McQuillan, J., & Krashen, S. (2008). Explaining the Flynn effect. Reading Psychology, 29(2), 135-142.
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2000). Report of the National Reading Panel. Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction (NIH Publication No. 00-4754). U.S. Government Printing Office.

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essays on value of reading books

How Reading Makes Us More Human

A debate has erupted over whether reading fiction makes human beings more moral. But what if its real value consists in something even more fundamental?

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A battle over books has erupted recently on the pages of The New York Times and Time. The opening salvo was Gregory Currie's essay , "Does Great Literature Make Us Better?" which asserts that the widely held belief that reading makes us more moral has little support. In response , Annie Murphy Paul weighed in with "Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer." Her argument is that "deep reading," the kind of reading great literature requires, is a distinctive cognitive activity that contributes to our ability to empathize with others; it therefore can, in fact, makes us "smarter and nicer," among other things. Yet these essays aren't so much coming to different conclusions as considering different questions.

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To advance her thesis, Paul cites studies by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto. Taken together, their findings suggest that those "who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective." It's the kind of thing writer Joyce Carol Oates is talking about when she says, "Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul."

Oatley and Mar's conclusions are supported, Paul argues, by recent studies in neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science. This research shows that "deep reading -- slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity -- is a distinctive experience," a kind of reading that differs in kind and quality from "the mere decoding of words" that constitutes a good deal of what passes for reading today, particularly for too many of our students in too many of our schools (as I have previously written about here ).

Paul concludes her essay with a reference to the literary critic Frank Kermode, who famously distinguishes between "carnal reading" -- characterized by the hurried, utilitarian information processing that constitutes the bulk of our daily reading diet -- and "spiritual reading," reading done with focused attention for pleasure, reflection, analysis, and growth. It is in this distinction that we find the real difference between the warring factions in what might be a chicken-or-egg scenario: Does great literature make people better, or are good people drawn to reading great literature?

Currie is asking whether reading great literature makes readers more moral  -- a topic taken up by Aristotle in Poetics (which makes an ethical apology for literature) . Currie cites as counter-evidence the well-read, highly cultured Nazis. The problem with this (aside from falling into the trap of Godwin's Law ) is that the Nazis were, in fact, acting in strict conformity to the dictates of a moral code, albeit the perverse code of the Third Reich. But Paul examines the connection of great literature not to our moral selves, but to our spiritual selves.

What good literature can do and does do -- far greater than any importation of morality -- is touch the human soul.

Reading is one of the few distinctively human activities that set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. As many scholars have noted, and Paul too mentions in her piece, reading, unlike spoken language, does not come naturally to human beings. It must be taught. Because it goes beyond mere biology, there is something profoundly spiritual -- however one understands that word -- about the human ability, and impulse, to read. In fact, even the various senses in which we use the word captures this: to "read" means not only to decipher a given and learned set of symbols in a mechanistic way, but it also suggests that very human act of finding meaning, of "interpreting" in the sense of "reading" a person or situation. To read in this sense might be considered one of the most spiritual of all human activities.

It is "spiritual reading" -- not merely decoding -- that unleashes the power that good literature has to reach into our souls and, in so doing, draw and connect us to others. This is why the way we read can be even more important than what we read. In fact, reading good literature won't make a reader a better person any more than sitting in a church, synagogue or mosque will. But reading good books well just might.

It did for me. As I relayed in my literary and spiritual memoir , the books I have read over a lifetime have shaped my worldview, my beliefs, and my life as much as anything else. From Great Expectations I learned the power the stories we tell ourselves have to do either harm and good, to ourselves and to others; from Death of a Salesman I learned the dangers of a corrupt version of the American Dream; from Madame Bovary, I learned to embrace the real world rather than escaping into flights of fancy; from Gulliver's Travels I learned the profound limitations of my own finite perspective; and from Jane Eyre I learned how to be myself. These weren't mere intellectual or moral lessons, although they certainly may have begun as such. Rather, the stories from these books and so many others became part of my life story and then, gradually, part of my very soul.

As Eugene H. Peterson explains in Eat this Book , "Reading is an immense gift, but only if the words are assimilated, taken into the soul -- eaten, chewed, gnawed, received in unhurried delight." Peterson describes this ancient art of lectio divina, or spiritual reading, as "reading that enters our souls as food enters our stomachs, spreads through our blood, and becomes ... love and wisdom." More than the books themselves, it is the skills and the desire to read in this way which comprise the essential gift we must give our students and ourselves. But this won't happen by way of nature or by accident.

Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research and author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain ,  has studied "deep reading" in the context of the science of the brain. She describes the fragility of the brain's ability to read with the kind of sustained attention that allows literature to wield its shaping power over us:

The act of going beyond the text to analyze, infer and think new thoughts is the product of years of formation. It takes time, both in milliseconds and years, and effort to learn to read with deep, expanding comprehension and to execute all these processes as an adult expert reader. ... Because we literally and physiologically can read in multiple ways, how we read--and what we absorb from our reading -- will be influenced by both the content of our reading and the medium we use.

The power of "spiritual reading" is its ability to transcend the immediacy of the material, the moment, or even the moral choice at hand. This isn't the sort of phenomenon that lends itself to the quantifiable data Currie seeks, although Paul demonstrates is possible, to measure. Even so, such reading doesn't make us better so much as it makes us human .

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Short Essay on Benefits of Reading

Essay on Benefits of Reading (1300 Words)

Reading helps our minds grow in ways that we can’t be taught in school or at home. No one is born with an innate love of reading, but everyone has the capacity for literacy, reading, and writing.

Essay on Benefits of Reading

1 – what is reading.

Reading is the act of decoding letters on a page to extract information. For many, reading has become an everyday activity.

For most people, it’s hard to imagine life without reading. However, not everyone can read. Around 15% of the world’s population has some form of learning disability that prevents them from being able to read. This means that they cannot interpret words and sentences on paper or digital screens.

Reading is good for the mind and body. Research shows that reading can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, promote empathy, and even increase lifespan by as much as two years!

2 – Importance of reading

The first thing to know about reading is that it’s not something that you should force your students to do. Reading should be something you engage them in, not something you force them to do.

Let them enjoy reading for what it is — something enjoyable and entertaining at the same time. Engaging students will help them get more out of reading and will set the stage for future academic success.

As an added bonus, you will both get more out of reading as a teacher and as a student. Empathy Reading opens up your mind to a whole new world. It can be uncomfortable at first, but remember to give them the tools to read the material. Not everyone is great at reading; let them know that you’re willing to help them along the way.

It’s important to read. It’s not some new-fangled, modern idea that everyone is championing, but rather a human instinct that has been with us since the beginning of time. Books are more than just storytellers — they offer understanding and insight into different cultures, languages, ages, genders, classes, ideologies.

3 – The benefits of reading

Reading is the best way to learn new things, broaden your knowledge, and find inspiration. It also stimulates your brain.

Reading can help you keep your mind sharp and be in control of it. Reading in different genres helps you develop different skills in different ways.

Reading opens up more doors than people may realize, so it should be a priority for everyone– whether you’re a preteen or an adult.

Reading helps people to become better thinkers and is the key to unlocking people’s minds.

4 – How to develop reading habit

Turn off all distractions when you’re reading, and find a comfortable spot to sit. Do you always have the TV on while you eat? Try turning off the TV, but continuing to watch it when you read.

Binge on your favorite authors. Choose a genre that you’re interested in and read everything written by that author. Then find another author and binge on their books as well. Go back to the beginning of that author’s series and read all of the books in that series.

Read also: How to avoid distractions while reading?

5 – Tips for Better Reading

Here are some tips for better reading:-

6 – How to read more

The first thing you can do is start reading more. Whether you want to read on an e-reader or a traditional book, the basic rules are the same:

Read also: Reading skills (types and strategies)

7 – Conclusion

Reading is something that everyone should do, so be sure to give it a try. There is no other form of education or experience that will give you more life knowledge than reading.

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essays on value of reading books

The Importance of Reading Books in the Digital Age: Why Traditional Reading Still Matters

sergey avetisyan

sergey avetisyan

Books and cultures

In a world where technology seems to have taken over our lives, the value of reading books may seem to have diminished. However, in reality, it is precisely because of the rapid changes brought about by technology that reading books has become more important than ever. Have you ever wondered why people still spend hours reading books when they could easily find information on the internet? In this essay, I will argue why reading books is crucial in today’s digital age.

Firstly, reading books enhances critical thinking skills. In today’s digital age, information is readily available at our fingertips, but it’s also easy to get lost in the vast sea of digital content without questioning its accuracy or authenticity. In contrast, books are typically written by experts in their fields, and their ideas have been thoroughly researched and reviewed before being published. Reading books allows us to develop a critical perspective and evaluate the validity of the information we encounter, making us more informed and discerning individuals.

Secondly, books provide a means of escape from the constant barrage of digital stimuli. The constant scrolling, notifications, and emails that come with our digital devices can be overwhelming and stressful. Reading a book, on the other hand, provides a quiet and focused escape from the distractions of the digital world. It allows us to slow down, relax, and engage with a narrative or idea in a way that is impossible through digital media. It’s like taking a break from the digital world and engaging in a peaceful, calming activity that soothes the mind and soul.

Thirdly, reading books can increase empathy and understanding. As we read about characters and situations that are different from our own experiences, we gain insight into the perspectives of others. This can help to broaden our horizons, increase our empathy towards others, and enhance our understanding of the world around us. In today’s world, where divisions and differences are prevalent, reading books can help us appreciate and celebrate diversity, and in the process, bring us closer to one another.

Finally, reading books is a form of self-care. It provides an opportunity to disconnect from the world and focus on our own personal growth and development. Whether it’s reading a book on meditation or a novel that provides a much-needed escape from reality, reading can be a powerful tool in maintaining our mental health and well-being. By taking a break from the fast-paced digital world, we give ourselves a chance to recharge and reconnect with our inner selves.

In conclusion, despite the rise of technology and the digital world, reading books remains an important and valuable activity. It enhances critical thinking skills, provides a means of escape from digital stimuli, increases empathy and understanding, and is a form of self-care. So, let’s make it a priority to read more books this year and reap the benefits of this timeless activity.

sergey avetisyan

Written by sergey avetisyan

is an economist and writer. My research interests lie in the field of urban economics, economic geography, and the financial stability of the banking sector.

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Essay on Books for Students and Children

Children's Books

500 Words Essay on Books

Books are referred to as a man’s best friend . They are very beneficial for mankind and have helped it evolve. There is a powerhouse of information and knowledge. Books offer us so many things without asking for anything in return. Books leave a deep impact on us and are responsible for uplifting our mood.

Essay on Books

This is why we suggest children read books from an early age to gain knowledge. The best part about books is that there are various types of books. One can read any type to gain different types of knowledge. Reading must be done by people of all ages. It not only widens our thinking but also enhances our vocabulary.

Different Genres of Books

There are different genres of books available for book readers. Every day, thousands of books are released in the market ranging from travel books to fictional books. We can pick any book of our interest to expand our knowledge and enjoy the reading experience.

Firstly, we have travel books, which tell us about the experience of various travelers. They introduce us to different places in the world without moving from our place. It gives us traveling tips which we can use in the future. Then, we have history books which state historical events. They teach about the eras and how people lived in times gone by.

Furthermore, we have technology books that teach us about technological developments and different equipment. You can also read fashion and lifestyle books to get up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry.

Most importantly, there are self-help books and motivational books . These books help in the personality development of an individual. They inspire us to do well in life and also bring a positive change in ourselves. Finally, we have fictional books. They are based on the writer’s imagination and help us in enhancing our imagination too. They are very entertaining and keep us intrigued until the very end.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Reading Books

There are not one but various advantages of reading books. To begin with, it improves our knowledge on a variety of subjects. Moreover, it makes us wiser. When we learn different things, we learn to deal with them differently too. Similarly, books also keep us entertained. They kill our boredom and give us great company when we are alone.

Furthermore, books help us to recognize our areas of interest. They also determine our career choice to a great extent. Most importantly, books improve our vocabulary . We learn new words from it and that widens our vocabulary. In addition, books boost our creativity. They help us discover a completely new side.

In other words, books make us more fluent in languages. They enhance our writing skills too. Plus, we become more confident after the knowledge of books. They help us in debating, public speaking , quizzes and more.

In short, books give us a newer perspective and gives us a deeper understanding of things. It impacts our personality positively as well. Thus, we see how books provide us with so many benefits. We should encourage everyone to read more books and useless phones.

FAQs on Books

Q.1 State the different genres of books.

A.1 Books come in different genres. Some of them are travel books, history books, technology books, fashion and lifestyle books, self-help books, motivational books, and fictional books.

Q.2 Why are books important?

A.2 Books are of great importance to mankind. They enhance our knowledge and vocabulary. They keep us entertained and also widen our perspective. This, in turn, makes us more confident and wise.

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The Lifelong Benefits of Reading: How Books Can Transform Your Life

Discover the transformative power of books and unlock a world of lifelong benefits through reading.

In today’s fast-paced digital age, where information is readily available at our fingertips, it’s easy to overlook the profound impact that reading can have on our lives. But beneath the surface lies a treasure trove of wisdom, knowledge, and personal growth waiting to be unraveled.

From broadening our horizons and enhancing our empathy to improving our cognitive abilities and reducing stress, books have the remarkable ability to shape and transform us. In this article, we will delve into the countless ways in which reading can enrich our lives, offering a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

So, grab a cup of tea, find a cozy nook, and embark on a journey that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the power of the written word. Whether you’re a devoted bookworm or someone who has yet to discover the joys of reading, prepare to be inspired by the lifelong benefits that await you on this literary adventure.

The Power of Reading

Reading is more than just a pleasurable pastime; it is a gateway to personal growth and transformation. When we dive into a compelling story or immerse ourselves in a thought-provoking non-fiction book, we open ourselves up to new ideas and perspectives. Books have the power to challenge our preconceived notions and expand our understanding of the world.

Reading also enhances our cognitive abilities. It improves our vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. As we engage with the written word, our brains are stimulated, creating new neural connections and improving our overall mental agility.

But reading is not just about intellectual growth. It has a profound impact on our emotional well-being as well. Whether it’s losing ourselves in a fictional world or finding solace in a self-help book, reading provides an escape from the pressures of everyday life. It allows us to explore our own emotions and connect with the experiences of others, fostering empathy and compassion.

Mental Benefits of Reading

The mental benefits of reading are manifold. Research has shown that reading regularly can improve our memory and concentration. When we read, we are required to focus our attention and retain information, exercising our brain in the process. This mental workout not only improves our ability to recall information but also enhances our concentration and attention span in other areas of life.

Furthermore, reading has been linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia. By regularly engaging our brains through reading, we can help keep our minds sharp and agile as we age. It’s like a workout for the brain, keeping it in top shape and staving off the effects of aging.

In addition to improving memory and cognitive function, reading can also enhance our problem-solving skills. As we encounter different scenarios and challenges in books, we are exposed to various ways of thinking and problem-solving. This exposure broadens our mental toolkit, allowing us to approach real-life problems with a fresh perspective and a wider range of strategies.

Emotional Benefits of Reading

Reading has a profound impact on our emotional well-being. It provides an escape from the stresses of everyday life, allowing us to immerse ourselves in different worlds and experiences. Whether we’re laughing out loud at a humorous novel or shedding tears over a heart-wrenching story, books evoke a wide range of emotions that allow us to connect with our own feelings.

Moreover, reading can increase our empathy and understanding of others. When we read about characters from different backgrounds or with different perspectives, we gain insight into their lives and experiences. This exposure to diverse narratives helps us develop a broader worldview and fosters empathy towards others, ultimately making us more compassionate individuals.

Reading can also be therapeutic. It can provide solace during difficult times and offer a sense of comfort and understanding when we feel alone. Books have the power to validate our emotions and provide us with the tools to navigate challenging situations. They can serve as a form of self-help, guiding us towards personal growth and healing.

Physical Benefits of Reading

While reading is often associated with mental and emotional benefits, it also has positive effects on our physical well-being. One of the most notable physical benefits is stress reduction. Reading has been shown to lower heart rate and reduce stress levels, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation. By immersing ourselves in a good book, we can escape from the demands of daily life and find respite from the pressures that weigh us down.

Furthermore, reading can improve sleep quality. Engaging in a quiet activity like reading before bed can help signal to our bodies that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, we can promote better sleep hygiene and ensure a more restful night’s sleep.

Additionally, reading can have a positive impact on our overall brain health. Studies have shown that reading can improve brain connectivity and increase neural activity. This stimulation of the brain can help ward off cognitive decline and improve cognitive function, leading to better overall brain health.

Social Benefits of Reading

Reading is often seen as a solitary activity, but it can also have social benefits. When we read a book, it opens up opportunities for conversation and connection with others. Book clubs, discussion groups, and literary events provide spaces for like-minded individuals to come together and share their thoughts and experiences.

Reading can also foster a sense of community. When we engage with a popular book or series, we become part of a larger cultural conversation. We can connect with others who have shared similar reading experiences and engage in discussions about the themes and ideas presented in the books. This shared connection can create a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

Furthermore, reading can improve our communication skills. As we encounter different writing styles and perspectives in books, we develop a greater appreciation for language and storytelling. This exposure to diverse narratives can enhance our own writing and communication abilities, allowing us to express ourselves more effectively and connect with others on a deeper level.

The Impact of Reading on Personal Growth and Development

Reading is a powerful tool for personal growth and development. It provides us with a wealth of knowledge and insights that can help us navigate the complexities of life. Whether we’re seeking advice on relationships , career guidance, or personal development, books offer a vast array of resources and perspectives to draw from.

One of the key ways in which reading promotes personal growth is by expanding our knowledge and perspective. By exposing ourselves to different ideas, cultures, and experiences through books, we broaden our understanding of the world and challenge our own beliefs and assumptions. This expansion of knowledge can lead to personal transformation and a greater sense of empathy and understanding towards others.

Furthermore, reading enhances our creativity and imagination. When we read, we are transported to different worlds and introduced to unique characters and situations. This exposure to new ideas and perspectives stimulates our own creativity and imagination, allowing us to think outside the box and approach problems with a fresh perspective.

Reading also offers us the opportunity for introspection and self-reflection. Through the experiences of characters in books, we can gain insight into our own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. This self-awareness can lead to personal growth and self-improvement as we identify areas for development and work towards becoming the best version of ourselves.

How Reading Can Improve Creativity and Imagination

Reading is a wellspring of inspiration for creativity and imagination. When we engage with books, we are exposed to different writing styles, storytelling techniques, and imaginative worlds. This exposure helps us think creatively and generate new ideas in various aspects of our lives.

By immersing ourselves in the worlds created by authors, we can expand our own imagination. Books allow us to visualize characters, settings, and events, fostering our ability to create vivid mental images. This enhanced imagination can be beneficial in many areas, such as problem-solving, brainstorming, and artistic endeavors.

Moreover, reading exposes us to different perspectives and ways of thinking, which can fuel our creative thinking. By encountering diverse narratives and exploring different points of view, we challenge our own assumptions and expand our thinking beyond conventional boundaries. This exposure to new ideas can inspire us to approach problems and projects in innovative ways.

Reading can also help us develop our own writing and storytelling skills. As we engage with well-crafted narratives, we subconsciously absorb writing techniques and storytelling structures. This exposure to quality writing can enhance our own writing abilities, allowing us to communicate more effectively and captivate our audience.

Reading as a Form of Relaxation and Stress Relief

In our fast-paced and digitally connected world, finding moments of relaxation and calm can be challenging. Reading offers a respite from the demands of daily life and provides a much-needed escape from the constant stream of information and stimuli.

When we immerse ourselves in a good book, our minds are transported to a different world. The act of reading requires focus and concentration, allowing us to temporarily disconnect from our worries and concerns. This focused immersion in a captivating story or subject matter helps us relax and unwind, promoting a sense of calm and tranquility.

Moreover, reading has been shown to lower heart rate and reduce stress levels. The rhythmic nature of reading, combined with the engagement of the mind, creates a soothing effect on the body. As we become absorbed in a book, our breathing slows, and our heart rate decreases, promoting a state of relaxation and stress relief.

Additionally, reading before bed can improve sleep quality. Engaging in a quiet and calming activity like reading helps signal to our bodies that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. By incorporating reading into our bedtime routine, we can promote better sleep hygiene and ensure a more restful night’s sleep.

How to Develop a Reading Habit

Developing a reading habit is a journey that requires commitment and intention. Here are some tips to help you cultivate a love for reading and make it a regular part of your life:

  • Set aside dedicated time for reading: Carve out specific time slots in your day for reading. It could be a few minutes in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed. Consistency is key, so aim to read at the same time each day.
  • Create a cozy reading environment: Find a comfortable spot in your home where you can relax and focus on your reading. Set the mood with soft lighting, a cozy blanket, and a cup of tea or coffee.
  • Start with books that interest you: Choose books that align with your interests and passions. If you’re not sure where to start, ask for recommendations from friends, join a book club, or explore different genres to discover what resonates with you.
  • Set realistic reading goals: Set achievable reading goals for yourself, such as reading a certain number of pages or chapters each day. This will help you stay motivated and track your progress.
  • Limit distractions: Minimize distractions during your reading time by turning off your phone or putting it on silent mode. Create a quiet and focused environment that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the book.
  • Join a reading community: Engage with others who share your love for reading by joining online book clubs or discussion groups. This will provide opportunities for meaningful conversations and recommendations for new books to explore.
  • Keep a reading journal: Record your thoughts, reflections, and favorite quotes in a reading journal. This can enhance your reading experience and serve as a valuable resource for future reference. Remember, developing a reading habit takes time and patience. Be gentle with yourself and enjoy the process of discovering new worlds and ideas through books.

Choosing the Right Books for Personal Growth and Transformation

Choosing the right books for personal growth and transformation requires thoughtful consideration. Here are some factors to consider when selecting books that will enrich your life:

  • Reflect on your goals and interests: Consider what areas of personal growth you would like to focus on and choose books that align with those goals. Whether it’s self-help, spirituality, or professional development, there are books available to support your journey.
  • Read reviews and recommendations: Research books that have received positive reviews and recommendations from trusted sources. Look for books that have resonated with others and have a track record of inspiring personal growth and transformation.
  • Explore different genres and perspectives: Step out of your comfort zone and explore genres and perspectives that are new to you. By exposing yourself to diverse narratives, you expand your understanding of the world and gain fresh insights.
  • Consider the author’s credentials and expertise: Look into the author’s background and expertise to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and experience to guide you on your personal growth journey. Check for credentials, reviews, and recommendations before committing to a book.
  • Trust your intuition: Pay attention to your gut instinct when choosing books. If a particular title or synopsis resonates with you, trust that it may hold valuable insights and lessons for your personal growth.

Remember that personal growth is a lifelong journey, and the books you choose to read are a reflection of that journey. Be open to exploring new ideas and perspectives, and allow yourself to be transformed by the power of the written word.

Related: Reading These 9 Books Will Change Your Life

Incorporating Reading into Your Daily Routine

Incorporating reading into your daily routine is a surefire way to make it a regular habit. Here are some practical tips to help you make reading a part of your everyday life:

  • Set a reading goal: Determine how much time you want to dedicate to reading each day. It could be as little as 10 minutes or as much as an hour. Set a realistic goal that you can commit to consistently.
  • Create a reading schedule: Find a time in your daily schedule that works best for you. It could be in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed. Establish a routine by consistently reading at the same time each day.
  • Keep a book with you at all times: Carry a book with you wherever you go, whether it’s a physical book or an e-reader. This way, you can take advantage of any free moments throughout the day, such as waiting in line or during your commute.
  • Make reading a priority: Treat reading as a non-negotiable part of your day. Prioritize it over other activities that may be less fulfilling or productive. By giving reading the importance it deserves, you’ll make it a priority in your life.
  • Create a cozy reading environment: Designate a specific reading spot in your home where you can relax and focus on your book. Make it cozy and inviting with cushions, blankets, and soft lighting.
  • Minimize distractions: Create a distraction-free environment by turning off your phone or putting it on silent mode. This will help you stay focused and fully immerse yourself in the book.
  • Keep a reading log: Keep track of the books you’ve read, along with any thoughts, reflections, or favorite quotes. This will not only serve as a record of your reading journey but also provide valuable insights for future reference.

Remember, consistency is key when it comes to developing a reading habit. By incorporating reading into your daily routine, you’ll be able to enjoy the lifelong benefits that books have to offer.

Ever read 4 books in a day?

Although reading is one of the most beneficial things that you can do for your mind, most people just can’t find the time in their days.

It can be difficult to read 500 pages a day like Warren Buffet or read 50 books a year like Bill Gates and with our daily routines and demanding day jobs, this may just not be possible.

We are here to bridge the gap!

With the Snapreads app, you get the key insights from the best nonfiction books in minutes, not hours or days. Our experts transform these books into quick, memorable, easy-to-understand insights that you can read on your time or listen on the go.

What Is Snapreads?

essays on value of reading books

With the Snapreads app, you get the key insights from the best nonfiction books in minutes, not hours or days. Our experts transform these books into quick, memorable, easy-to-understand insights you can read when you have the time or listen to them on the go.

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10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day

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Before the electronic era, everyday reading was a ritual that almost everyone who wanted to gain knowledge adapted. The benefits of reading needed not to be reminded all the time.

Amongst other things, we have been so preoccupied with social media and the internet that hardly anyone contemplates reading books. While some maybe too busy to read, others merely don’t care to read.

There are many benefits to reading, from making you smarter to improve your reading and writing skills. If you want to understand what benefits one could reap from developing the habit of reading, then we have enlisted the top 10 benefits here.

10 Benefits of Reading

1. mental stimulation for your brain.

When you read every day, you stimulate your mental activity. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the benefits of reading.

As per a study, one of the prime benefits of reading books is slowing down mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia [1] It happens since reading stimulates the brain and keeps it active, which allows it to retain its power and capacity.

Every part of our body needs exercise to stay healthy, and the same goes for our brain. Reading gives it regular exercise and keeps it healthy and sound.

Even playing games like chess or solving puzzles results in cognitive stimulation [2]

2. Good Habit For Stress Reduction

Everyday concerns will keep bothering you unless you do something to divert your mind. Reading gives you that mental space to occupy yourself with something more interesting.

When you read a great story, all your stress seems to slip away and relax you since you tend to travel mentally in a different realm. Sometimes while reading, you come across valuable advice or solutions to your problems.

3. Knowledge-Enhancement

Reading Important to Enhance the Knowledge

Since the onset of civilization, we have grown and developed mentally. Many learned scholars give credit to the erudite tomes written by our predecessors for our knowledge. The importance of reading books is now more than ever since. Not everything is available in digitalized form.

There are numerous ways to learn more about life, from self-help books to reading fiction. Even when you feel demotivated, you can read an inspirational biography to lift your mood. One of the great benefits of reading books is that the knowledge you gain from them can never be taken away from you. Unlike worldly possessions, your knowledge will stay with you till the end of time.

4. Vocabulary Expansion

If you are not yet convinced on why reading books is important, this might interest you. When you develop the habit of reading, you enhance your vocabulary. Reading any type of book can improve your vocabulary to an impressive extent.

Having great command over the language is known to help many in their professional and academic life. Moreover, with better vocabulary knowledge, you get to fill yourself with self-confidence when sitting in a group with a knowledgeable audience.

You can also expect to learn new languages when you develop the habit of reading various books every day.

5. Improves Your Memory

Regular reading is a great exercise for your brain. If you read a fictional book, your brain is forced to remember the names and nature of various characters. Going back to their history and remembering events or plots is fun and improves your memory.

One of the greatest benefits of reading daily is that your brain becomes super powerful. An amazing fact about our brain is that it can retain a great amount of information, and with every new memory, your brain creates new brain pathways or synapses. [3] .

Moreover, it strengthens your existing memory, helps to recall short-term memory, and stabilizes mood. . [4] How cool is that?

If you are intrigued by this information, how about learning to boost your memory and become 10x smarter by checking out this technique !

6. Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

If you are still wondering what other benefits of reading regularly are, consider this! One of the most amazing benefits of reading every day is that it can improve your analytical skills. Reading mystery novels helps you develop skills that can assist you in problem-solving.

While reading a novel, the disclosure is pretty slow, and your mind is forced to predict or make guesses. Upon disclosure, you get to connect the dots. It’s fun to make your brain smarter and enhance your analytical skills.

Subconsciously the brain is trained to think more smartly and develop strong analytical skills. You can expect to gain from this in your personal and professional life.

7. Improves Focus and Concentration

One of the worst things that technology has done is make us lazy. Almost everything is available with ease. We hardly make an effort to focus on solving issues or concentrate on bringing about any improvement.

Want food? Just open your phone and order via the app!

Want Clothes? Again use an app and try on attires virtually!

You can see where we are going with this. You can agree that we even tend to get lazy and don’t even put an effort to remember things. Simply put a reminder on the phone, and that’s it!

While reading can bring back the lost power of focus and concentration. If you feel that using modern technology lowers our productivity, then develop the healthy habit of reading every day.

Keeping yourself occupied with reading for about 20 to 30 minutes can be great for your brain. It can help you with better focus and concentration. You may have been doing it wrong for those who still find it difficult to develop focus or concentrate properly

8. Better Writing Skills

If you read more, you will naturally become good at writing skills. Since your vocabulary and pronunciation improve by reading regularly, it eventually makes you a better writer.

We are not just talking about writing fiction, books, novels, etc. Even when writing something in everyday personal and professional life, your writing skills would have improved with regular reading.

The more you read, the better your writing skills will become. You would tend to focus on various aspects of writing that would allow you to write more effectively than others.

9. Tranquility

Don’t you sometimes feel like just getting away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday nonsense? But it’s not always cost-effective to plan a trip to get some time in solitude.

Reading a book allows you to gain similar tranquility. What’s more interesting is that people suffering from high blood pressure or anxiety can find peace in reading.

Reading self-help or spiritual texts uplifts your soul and makes you feel better. Whereas people suffering from mood disorders can also feel better with reading habits. [5]

10. Free Source Of Entertainment

We do spend on movies and music, but why? It is for entertainment, isn’t it? Then why not simply read books with the same purpose? You would be surprised to know that some of your favorite movies or TV series were made after getting inspiration from some of the greatest novels.

What’s more interesting is that reading books would cost a lot less and keep you entertained for longer. Just check out the local library which can introduce you to numerous entertaining novels. You can find books on any topic that you find interesting and keep yourself entertained.

If you cannot go to the library or do not have access to any library nearby, you can even scout for them on online sources . Numerous online stores have free e-books to read.

Final Thoughts

From health benefits to getting smarter, there are numerous benefits that regular reading can offer. You can expect to enhance your knowledge about so many things if you just develop this habit of reading books regularly. It might appear boring unless you start, but once it is assured, once you get a grip of reading, you will be thanking yourself for this habit.

[1]^abc news:
[2]^Fisher Center For Alzheimer’s Research Foundation:
[3]^VeryWellMind:
[4]^Oprah:
[5]^The Wall Street Journal:

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Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

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Girl reading book on sofa

From apps to social media to Netflix to video games, there are so many ways to fill your free time that it can be hard to decide what to do. It’s also easy to overlook one of the most fulfilling and beneficial pastimes ever created. Let’s look at the main benefits of reading and how you can highlight them to your child.

What are the main benefits of reading books?

Benefits of reading before bed.

  • Benefits of reading to children

Benefits of reading out loud

Why is reading important.

  • Does listening to audiobooks have the same benefits?

What are the benefits of reading fiction?

What are the benefits of reading poetry, it’s a gym for your brain.

The act of reading is a remarkable mental feat and reading comprehension uses a lot of your brain power. When you’re thumbing through a novel you’re building a whole world of people, places and events in your mind and remembering it all as you follow the story. This gives your imagination and memory a thorough workout and strengthens networks in various other parts of your brain too. 💪

If you’re reading a non-fiction book you’re also getting an in-depth experience of a subject full of facts and details that you need to hold in your mind to follow the arguments of the writer. 

It’s well known that your memory improves with use as new memories are created and connected to older ones, making them stronger and easier to recall. Scientists have even found that the other parts of the brain activated by reading can continue to improve days after you’ve stopped reading, meaning even just a little bit of reading can go a long way. 

It improves your focus

From Insta stories to tweets to TikTok videos, information is being packaged into ever smaller chunks and researchers believe our attention spans are getting shorter. However, being able to concentrate on one thing for long periods and ignore distractions is essential for school and for work. Reading is an excellent way to improve your concentration skills and the more you read, the better you’ll be able to focus. 🔍

It expands your vocabulary

Reading expands your vocabulary more than any other activity. A rich vocabulary allows you to understand the world in a more sophisticated way. Reading is also great for your grammar skills and lets you communicate your thoughts and ideas more accurately in all areas of your life. 

It’s an education

Reading is the key to knowledge. Reading non-fiction books means you can learn about any subject you choose in as much detail as you want. Fiction allows you to learn about how other people all over the world live their lives and to put yourself in their shoes. This is a great way to improve your empathy and learn to approach other people with an open mind. 

It helps your problem-solving skills

Reading fiction is also fantastic preparation to learn how to solve various types of problems you may not yet have encountered in your own life. You get the chance to follow the characters through all kinds of situations and find out how they deal with challenges big and small. 

Maybe they make the right choices or maybe they don’t, either way, the writer has put a lot of thought and consideration into their story and you can always learn something from a character’s experiences. 🧩

It’s good therapy

Reading about difficult situations characters or real people experience can be hugely beneficial as well. It can be useful to read both fiction and non-fiction books about something you’re going through. Books can act as a type of therapy and help you to feel less alone in your situation. 

This bibliotherapy has proven effective in helping people deal with issues such as depression or other mood disorders. The NHS even prescribes books to help people through its Reading Well programme! 

Books offer the best value-for-money entertainment anywhere! There’s no expensive equipment to buy, no tickets to pay for and no monthly subscription fee. All you need is a library card for your local branch and you’re good to go! 

Your nearest library probably has tens of thousands of different books available, so you’re sure to find a title to hook you. If they don’t have something in particular you're looking for, you can even ask the librarian to order it from another library. 

Some libraries even offer ebooks on loan which you can add to your ereader or tablet 🏛️

It’ll inspire your child

If your children regularly see you reading you’ll be setting a good example. Children tend to copy what they see their parents do and they’ll soon be joining you storybook in hand for some quiet time you can enjoy together. 

It’s great for stress

It’s not most people’s first idea of a relaxation technique, but reading does an awesome job of helping you manage stress. According to research, reading can lead to a lower heart rate and blood pressure and a calmer mind and just six minutes of reading can bring your stress levels down by more than 66%. 

It helps you live longer!

If you still need another reason to commit yourself to read more, how about this: reading can actually help you live longer! Researchers discovered that those who read for half an hour a day had a 23% chance of living longer than people who didn’t read very much. In fact, readers lived around two years longer than non-readers! 🌳

teenager-reading-book

So, if we’ve convinced you that you and your family need more reading in your lives, when is the best time to do it? Well, reading at bedtime allows you to kill two birds with one stone. 

It helps you get a good night’s sleep

Despite its importance, many of us don’t follow good sleep hygiene and spend the hours before bedtime staring at screens big and small, leading to difficulty falling asleep and affecting the quality of our slumber. The NHS found that one in three of us experience poor sleep. 

Choose to read an actual book before bedtime instead of checking your social media or watching Netflix and you can look forward to a better night’s rest. Reading fiction is a good way of relaxing the body and calming your mind and preparing for bed and has been shown to be as relaxing as meditation. 💤

It calms your child

If you treat your child to story time and read to them just before they go to bed you’ll discover that it’s perfect for calming them down and getting them in the right mood for sleep. As a bonus, they’ll get used to sitting still and concentrating on one thing for a long time.

  Benefits of reading to children

  Children can eventually enjoy all the benefits of reading mentioned above but whether they are too small to read much themselves or they just enjoy listening to you tell them a story, they can get some extra value out of the experience if you read to them regularly yourself. 

It gives them a love of learning

If you start by reading to your child you can get them hooked on books and start a habit that will last them throughout their lives and repay your investment over and over again. Children who learn to read for pleasure will go on to enjoy greater academic success throughout their education according to research. 👩🏽‍🎓

It gives them a head-start

Even if your little one is a toddler who isn’t ready to start reading storybooks by themselves, you can give their literacy skills an early boost and teach them to read by reading to them yourself. They might not understand everything but they’ll pick up enough to get the idea. Let them see the words on the page as you read and encourage them to turn the page when you get to the last word. 

By reading to them you’ll be helping them follow the natural rhythms of language, practise their listening skills and expose them to vocabulary they might not get to hear in their day-to-day lives.  

It brings you together

Time spent reading to your child is a wonderful chance to create some beautiful, cosy, loving memories together and strengthen your bond. It will become something like a regular adventure you and your child can look forward to doing together and will remember all your lives. 👩‍👦

It also gives you lots to talk about later and you can have enjoyable discussions about the characters, plots, dilemmas and mysteries you discover during your reading time. 

Even when your child starts to read for themselves, you don’t need to stop your shared storytime. You can swap it up, with them taking on the role of the reader as you listen or you can take turns reading to each other. 

  You’ve probably been taught that the best method of reading is in silence. However, research has found that quiet reading isn’t actually always the better option and that there are in fact some benefits of reading out loud. 📢

It helps you understand

It turns out that speaking as you read can help you understand texts better. You probably read aloud more than you realise. If you’ve ever received a slightly convoluted message or email or you’ve tried to read confusing legal jargon, you’ve probably found yourself repeating the words out loud to more clearly understand what was meant. ✅

It helps you remember

Or perhaps you’ve tried to memorise a phone number or the lines of a speech and you automatically started to say the information aloud to help you remember. 

Psychologists call this the “production effect” and have discovered that these tactics do actually help people remember things more easily, especially children. 📚

Research from Australia showed that children who were told to read out loud recognized 17% more words compared to children who were asked to read silently. In another study, adults were able to identify 20% more words they had read aloud. 

The theory is that because reading aloud is an active process it makes words more distinctive, and so easier to remember. 🧠

Why read? 

Reading is the most effective way to get information about almost everything and is the key ingredient in learning for school, work and pleasure. On top of this, reading boosts imagination, communication, memory, concentration, and empathy. It also lowers stress levels and leads to a longer life. 

Does listening to audiobooks have the same benefits as reading books?

It can be hard to concentrate for a long time and the experience of reading. With a real book you can quickly scan your eyes back over the page to reread what you’ve missed, this isn’t so easy with an audiobook. A psychology study showed that students who read material did 28% better on a test than those who heard the same material as a podcast. 

Reading fiction is a useful way to develop your empathy, social skills and emotional intelligence. Fictional stories allow you to put yourself in other people's shoes and see things from various perspectives. In fact, brain scans show that many of the parts of the brain you use to interact with other people are also activated when you’re reading fiction. 

Poetry is the home of the most creative, imaginative and beautiful examples of language and allows you to connect those powerful lines to real emotions all of us feel. Poetry is also efficient and a good poet can reveal deep ideas with a simple phrase. Reading poetry can also inspire your creativity and write some expressive verse of your own! 

Reading is something most of us have been doing all our lives and as a result, we can easily take it for granted, but it’s a great all-around experience for your mind and spirit. So, it's really worth digging out your library card and finding books you and your child can read together. 

If your child is having problems with reading, here at GoStudent we have education experts on standby to give you and them a helping hand in improving their literacy skills or any other learning challenges they need support with. Schedule a free trial lesson with GoStudent today!

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Pedro Almodóvar’s first book, like his movies, blends reality and fiction: ‘A fragmentary autobiography’

Pedro Almodóvar, in a red collared shirt and bright yellow jacket, looks into the camera.

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The Last Dream

By Pedro Almodóvar, translated by Frank Wynne HarperVia: 240 pages, $26 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

When Pedro Almodóvar was a young boy, his mother would read and translate letters for their illiterate neighbors. One day, Almodóvar discovered that his mother was embellishing, even fabricating, what was in them.

With the irate purity of an 8-year-old, he confronted her and asked why she told one neighbor that the author of the letter had written movingly about her grandmother, a person not even mentioned in the communication.

“Did you see how happy she was?” his mother responded.

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“That was a very good lesson for me even if I didn’t know it at that moment,” the Spanish filmmaker recalled in a recent video interview. Resplendent in a deep blue shirt, he was promoting his first book, a mix of short stories and personal essays called “The Last Dream.” The title piece is an essay about his mother that was written after her death.

“I soon realized reality needs fiction to make life easier and more livable,” he says, adding that it informed his stories and later his screenwriting. He always blended reality and fiction, telling personal stories without being beholden to a documentary-style reciting of the facts. (His mother also got Almodóvar a job teaching young men to read and write, which became a scene in “Pain and Glory.”)

Those stories have fueled a career that includes an original screenplay Oscar for “Talk to Her,” plus noms for his films “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” “All About My Mother” and “Pain and Glory.” Along the way, Almodóvar, whose movies are renowned for their vibrant color palettes and dynamic soundtracks, became an icon in the LGBTQ+ community for capturing the love — and the complex nuances — of queer characters and helped make Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz into stars.

"The Last Dream" by Pedro Almodóvar

Almodóvar’s book — out Sept. 24 — came about accidentally. He has always been a storyteller and started writing as a teen. “But then, as I grew older, I started experimenting with Super 8 films and discovered I had more talent for expressing my stories with images. I was better at writing for the movies than as a fiction writer.”

But he always wrote, even if he stuck the short stories and essays in a drawer. “I wrote because I wanted to,” he says. “I didn’t think about the stories being published or made into movies; I just felt the necessity of writing it.”

Eventually, his assistant, Lola García, pulled out some of the old folders and suggested that Almodóvar consider publishing them. As he notes in the introduction, he has never written a memoir, allowed for an authorized biography or even formally kept a diary. But Almodóvar found, on reading the pieces he has collected, that they amount to “a fragmentary autobiography, incomplete and a little cryptic.”

Of course, most of his films are so personal that they fill in many of those gaps. “My stories and movies are all mixed together in a kind of indivisible manner,” he says.

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You might expect a director publishing his first book to stick to the writing but Almodóvar continually returns to the world of film in our conversation. He talks about having “always dreamed of writing a great novel” but finally accepting that he wouldn’t be able to while still hoping to at least write a “good and entertaining one,” then veers off into the difference between writing novels and scripts. He points to Cormac McCarthy’s screenplay for Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor,” starring Cruz, Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt.

“I love McCarthy’s novels, and they’re so full of dialogue so you immediately think they’d be a good script, but the rules for one are very different from the other, and it doesn’t mean the novelist can be a good screenwriter,” he says, then goes on to discuss Joseph and Herman Mankiewicz, Raymond Chandler and the ways writers do or do not adapt to Hollywood.

He also answers one question about his stories with a long explanation about how a car accident in “All About My Mother” is both an homage to John Cassavetes’ “Opening Night” and also deeply personal for him. “The movies I see, the things I read, they all become part of my own experience,” he says, “so there are many scenes in my movies that reference other movies.”

He also notes that the first story in his book, “The Visit,” later became the inspiration for his 2004 movie “Bad Education.” But it’s far from a straightforward adaptation. While the story opens with a classic Almodóvar flourish — a young woman flamboyantly dressed like Marlene Dietrich saunters through a small town before stopping at a Catholic school where she forces a showdown with the headmaster — and finishes with a dramatic plot twist, the film, with its multilayered meta examination of storytelling, is far more ambitious.

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While “Bad Education” still condemns the church and the priests who sexually molested young boys and got away with it, that’s not the focal point. and the priests are even somewhat humanized.

“I wrote the story in the ’70s, and I can see my anger,” he says. “I was still furious in 2000, and I wanted to talk about the abuse but I was less interested in making an anticlerical movie than in talking about the origin of creativity and creation and how far people are willing to take a lie or a fiction. I was much more interested in sort of mixing all the different realities, including my own reality of being a filmmaker, as part of the story.”

Other stories, like “Too Many Gender Swaps,” aren’t directly connected to a specific movie, but he says they share thematic interests with his films. “You can see the origins of ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ and ‘All About My Mother’ in there,” he says.

Almodóvar notes that while he is very much still the same person who wrote all these stories across the decades, he is also very different. “Back then, I could spend the whole night in a disco, drinking and dancing and then in the morning go straight to work,” he says. “But there’s a moment [when] you have to choose between excitement and health. I decided to be healthy, to work more than party.”

While he gave up partying, his health has remained an issue — his spine and heart conditions are central to “Pain and Glory.” (He‘s had to have spinal fusion, which immobilized part of his spine.)

“Now, I just write and make movies,” he says. This year, he’ll release his first English-language feature, “The Room Next Door,” starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. “My excitement now comes from my work. This means that I’m condemned to keep on making movies. The only thing now is whether they are good or not.”

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Essay on Benefits of Reading

Students are often asked to write an essay on Benefits of Reading in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Benefits of Reading

The joy of reading.

Reading is a rewarding habit that can entertain, inform, and inspire. It allows us to explore different worlds, cultures, and ideas, broadening our perspectives.

Improving Language Skills

Reading regularly enhances vocabulary and grammar, aiding in effective communication. It helps us express our thoughts and ideas more clearly.

Boosting Cognitive Abilities

Reading stimulates our brain, improving focus, memory, and analytical skills. It’s like a workout for the mind, keeping it healthy and sharp.

Nurturing Empathy

Through reading, we can experience diverse emotions and situations, fostering empathy and understanding towards others.

Promoting Mental Health

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Benefits of Reading

Introduction.

Reading, often perceived as a simple act of decoding words on a page, transcends beyond this basic perception, offering a myriad of benefits that enrich our lives. This essay explores the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of reading.

Cognitive Development

Reading is a powerful tool for cognitive development. It enhances our understanding of complex concepts and ideas, stimulating intellectual curiosity. It improves concentration, attention to detail, and analytical thinking, fostering problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, reading extends our vocabulary and comprehension skills, strengthening our communication abilities.

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Reading literature, particularly fiction, allows us to experience diverse perspectives, fostering empathy. It provides a safe space to navigate complex emotions, enhancing our emotional intelligence. This understanding can be applied in real-life situations, improving interpersonal relationships.

Mental Health Benefits

Reading acts as a form of escapism, reducing stress levels. The immersive nature of reading can provide a sense of tranquility, alleviating anxiety and depression. It also promotes better sleep quality, particularly when incorporated into a bedtime routine.

Life-long Learning

In conclusion, reading is not merely a hobby, but a potent tool for personal and intellectual growth. It enhances cognitive abilities, fosters empathy, promotes mental health, and cultivates a culture of lifelong learning. As college students, embracing the habit of reading can significantly enrich our academic journey and beyond.

500 Words Essay on Benefits of Reading

Reading is a fundamental skill that transcends the boundary of age, culture, and profession. It is an activity that is often underrated, yet it holds immense potential to enhance our lives in countless ways. This essay explores the profound benefits of reading, particularly focusing on cognitive enhancement, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.

Cognitive Enhancement

Moreover, reading exposes us to new ideas, concepts, and knowledge. It broadens our understanding of diverse subjects, from science and technology to philosophy and art. This intellectual nourishment fosters critical thinking skills, enabling us to analyze situations from multiple perspectives and make informed decisions.

Emotional Intelligence

Reading literature, particularly fiction, offers a unique opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes. It allows us to empathize with characters, understand their motivations, and experience their emotions. This engagement fosters emotional intelligence, the ability to perceive, understand, and manage our own and others’ emotions.

Personal Growth

Reading also contributes significantly to personal growth. It broadens our horizons, exposing us to different cultures, histories, and philosophies. This exposure fosters a global perspective, enabling us to appreciate diversity and understand our place in the world.

Furthermore, reading can be a source of inspiration and motivation. It can introduce us to stories of resilience, innovation, and achievement, encouraging us to strive for our own goals. It can also offer guidance and wisdom, helping us navigate life’s challenges.

In conclusion, reading is a powerful tool for cognitive enhancement, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. It is an activity that enriches our lives, providing intellectual stimulation, emotional depth, and personal insight. As we navigate the information age, where knowledge is power, the ability to read critically and empathetically becomes increasingly important. Therefore, we should embrace reading not merely as a pastime but as a pathway to a more enlightened, empathetic, and empowered existence.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Manifestation is when your make your dreams and goals come true by first picturing them and ... [+] believing that you can achieve them. (Photo: GettY)

If you can envision what you want, do you believe that the Universe will eventually deliver it you? Well, James R. Doty, M.D ., a neurosurgeon and founder and director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University , does believe in the power of manifestation. That’s evidenced by the title of his recently released book, Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything . Manifestation is when your make your dreams and goals come true by first picturing them and believing that you can achieve them. But in the book, Doty did write something that at first may sound discouraging: the Universe doesn’t give a bleep about you.

Now, Doty is not the official spokesperson for the Universe. So, what the Universe actually thinks about you may be up for debate. But Doty’s point is that manifesting is not about waiting around for some kind of being or force to grant you what you want. In a conversation, he emphasized to me, “While manifestation has been associated with woo woo and pseudoscience, there is science behind manifestation.” Doty added, “So many people give away their self-agency to external things that they manufacture.” Instead, he said, “Belief can actually change things. The most powerful is the power that you need to change things.”

He gave the example of “value tagging,” which allows your brain to better sort through all the stuff it sees every day. Think about how much stuff enters and swirls around your brain every minute, hour and day. There’s no way that your brain can treat all of this stuff with equal value. For example, when you are crossing a street, your brain’s first priority probably is not knowing the names of all the contestants in The Bachelor, what the Kardashians are wearing or which of your classmates still thinks the Earth is flat . Instead, your brain should kind of notice that big truck that’s bearing down on you.

Therefore, your brain has to have filters in place to determine what deserves your attention at a given time. Your brain can in effect tag those things deemed worthy of your awareness while letting the less important things flow by unnoticed. So, if you tell the brain what you want—what you really, really want in the words of the Spice Girls—your brain may in turn subsequently tag as valuable any information that is related in any way. This means consciously and subconsciously tagging or assigning a higher value to that information.

Say, for example, you’ve already envisioned yourself being the greatest fruitcake baker in the world someday. Well, your brain could end up tagging anything that matches this vision so that it will be more noticeable. So, even at a very busy event where a funk band is playing, you still may be more likely to notice that a well-known lawyer briefly mentioned his passion for fruitcakes or catch wind of a conversation where people are trying to figure out what to do with 14,325 bags of spare flour. These in turn could lead to, shall we say, very fruitful opportunities that others could have missed and later on make it seem like realizing your vision was a piece of cake.

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“Value tagging” can help your brain better identify people and opportunities in crowds that match ... [+] your vision of interest. (Image: Getty)

Doty described it like being a bloodhound, how if you know what you want, you and your senses can cut through the surrounding noise and find the right pieces. “We are who we are because of the sensory data that we get in,” he said. “We are only able to process about 50 to 100 things at a time. Value tagging is the ability to embed your intentions into your subconscious and create the synchronicity that then allow you to have greatest likelihood of manifesting something.”

Then there’s the power of belief itself. The whole placebo effect shows that believing in something can change your physiology. So maybe believing in a vision for the future can help you work that much harder, get you through the pain of surmounting obstacles, improve your senses and thinking and in general change you into a person who is more likely to accomplish that vision. Doty talked about how Tibetan monks have been able to modulate their feelings and how magnetic resonance imaging has shown changes in metabolism when people change their thinking.

Doty did warn that it can matter what specifically you may be pursuing. Going after a self-centered vision that’s all about you may not be the same as pursuing a vision that benefits many more people. He related details of his own past, one that began with him growing up in poverty. He then progressed to eventually becoming a neurosurgeon and then part of the whole late 1990s dot-com boom and bust in Silicon Valley. “The narrative is that if you attain success, that is equated with happiness,” Doty explained. “Previously, I had no self-awareness and knowledge. Before losing millions in the dot-com crisis, I had everything, a Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, flying around in private jets, all my friends telling me how great my life was.” He added, though, “I realized that I was focused on the wrong things. It was about doing things that padded my ego and not about being of service.”

After attaining these things, not getting the expected satisfaction and losing many of these things, he realized that this was a false narrative. Rather than seek external affirmation and validation, it was more important to be of service and establish meaningful relationships. “If it is all about you, you won't be happy,” he said.

If your future vision is more altruistic, more beneficial for others, you may find others helping ... [+] you achieve it. (Image: Getty)

Doty suggested that if your future vision is more altruistic, more beneficial for others, then you may have better chances of achieving it. He pointed out the various positive physiologic effects of taking a more generous and giving approach to life such as the release of oxytocin, activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering of blood pressure, the boosting of the immune system, and lower production of stress hormones. All of these can help you function more optimally and thus, ding, ding, ding, better achieve what you want to achieve. “When you look at the world through a different lens, it can be quite powerful,” Doty said.

Plus, when it’s not just all about you, others can more readily get on board to help you achieve your vision. After all, if you say, “I want to be really rich and live in that nice condo over there,” how many people will respond, “OK, whatever you want, I’ll help” to this vision? Contrast that with you saying, “Here’s how I want to improve the world,” a much more giving goal that is more likely to get a lot more takers to then help you.

In the end, unless the Universe has some type of press conference or writes a memoir, no one will know exactly what the Universe wants from and thinks of you. But if you are self-centered, you can be pretty darn sure about what others will eventually think of you.

Bruce Y. Lee

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essays on value of reading books

Ames native and "Little Quack" author Derek Anderson's final children's book to publish posthumously

Late children’s author and illustrator Derek Anderson had an innate nature as an artist. He started drawing as soon as he was old enough to hold a pencil.

Art was a burning passion that was fanned by his experience as an elementary student at Ames’ Roosevelt school, where he said he wrote his first story. His studies continued at Iowa State University, where he drew the regular "High Tide" cartoon for the Iowa State Daily.

“I can barely remember a time when he wasn’t writing a story,” his mom Carol Anderson, a retired Ames teacher, said. “When he was big enough to write, he started writing stories.”

Derek Anderson's father, Marv Anderson, a physicist, would often bring home used computer paper, which Derek used to make storybooks.

A successful career in art and writing

Anderson eventually became a bestselling children’s author and illustrator, publishing more than 30 books during his career.

Just before his health declined due to glioblastoma, Derek Anderson completed his final book, “Bring Up the Sun,” which he both wrote and illustrated.

His brain tumor was discovered during an unrelated medical appointment.“Derek’s reaction was just like his attitude toward life. He wanted to live life to the fullest — he always did, even before his health declined," Derek’s wife Cheryl Meyer said. "He just wanted to enjoy every day, make the most of every moment. You can see how much he loved drawing and writing, and he was able to do it till the very end.”

Anderson passed away on April 26 at the age of 55 . His final piece, "Bring Up the Sun," will be published posthumously by HarperCollins with a target date of June 2025.

Anderson's impact on the world of children’s literature and the Ames community is a lasting legacy.

More: Ames staple Jeff's Pizza Shop looks toward the future with expanded menu, serving space

'This is what I want to do'

Cheryl Meyer and Derek Anderson were college sweethearts, both attending Iowa State. They met while working at Village Inn, where Anderson was known for creating little drawings on his order notepad and handing them to friends and coworkers.

He was the first employee at Copyworks, where he worked during and after college.

While Anderson was in college, his mom brought home a stack of children’s books from a conference she’d attended. As he looked through the books, he had an epiphany − he wanted to create children's books.

“They’re full color," Anderson said during a tour of the Roosevelt building in 2022. "Every book can be about different characters, you can tell all these different stories.”

Shortly after graduating, Anderson and his wife moved to Minnesota, where he pursued a career in art.

He became a sculptor at Tivoli, where he created figurines for Disney and Warner Bros. Derek Anderson would work on his writing and illustration projects at night after work, building a portfolio to take to New York City publishers.

More: 'Heart of Iowa State': Iconic Campanile is turning 125. Look back at key moments.

Little Quack was a springboard for Anderson’s career

An illustration of a purple gorilla especially caught the eye of editors at Simon & Schuster, and they hired him to illustrate a children’s book, “Little Quack,” written by Lauren Thompson.

“Derek likes to tell the story about how he had to do that whole book in 45 days," Meyer said. "Usually he would spend a good few months on it, but he did have to do that one really quickly,”

“Little Quack” was a catalyst for Anderson’s career, garnering sales and recognition. The book was on the New York Times Bestseller List in 2003, won the National Parenting Publication Gold Award and earned the Children's Choice Award from the International Reading Association/Children's Book Council.

Anderson illustrated four books in the Little Quack series. He had a whimsical understory about the five little ducklings in the Little Quack series, Meyer said. He could have just drawn five little ducks, but gave each one a distinct look and personality.

Anderson wanted the attention on the books, not him, his mom and wife both said.

“Derek loved it when parents or grandparents would come up to him and say, ‘I am so tired of reading your book over and over. That's all my kid wants to hear. I have Little Quack memorized,’” Meyer said with a chuckle.

During a recent walk in the park, Carol Anderson was approached by a mom.

“The gal said, ‘We have the Little Quack books lined up and they get to choose which one they read every night,’” she said.

More: Author, illustrator Derek Anderson celebrated 30th book release in Ames, toured The Roosevelt

Derek Anderson put special illustrations in his books

Anderson loved hiding little details in his illustrations — drawings of himself as a kid, Iowa State’s Campanile, the beloved Roosevelt school, and his dog.

“He loved animals and I think it really comes across in his drawings,” Meyer said. “It comes across in their expressions and faces. He liked drawing animals with ears because the ears have a lot of expression.”

More: The Shops at Clark & Main is headed to the former Hy-Vee Drug location

Anderson dedicates early success to Ames CSD

Roosevelt School was a key place for Derek Anderson's development as a kid. He detailed its impact with children during various speaking engagements.

Anderson drew a picture of the Easter Bunny when he was in kindergarten.

“I was so proud of it, I took it down to Mr. Berhow, the principal. I gave it to him, and he laminated it and hung it on the wall of his office,” Anderson told a group of Roosevelt condo owners before a tour in 2022. “That made me think I was going to be an artist.”

Designing the iconic Ames Bookmobile

Anderson designed and rendered the artwork for Ames Public Library’s Bookmobile in 2014. The vehicle is nine feet tall and 30 feet long. He created the artwork with pen and ink, then scanned it and painted every detail digitally.

The Bookmobile is still often seen driving around the Ames community, decorated with Anderson’s colorful, amusing characters.

“Derek liked helping people and inspiring others and just being a part of the community,” Meyer said.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her [email protected].

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Share on the Air: Creating a Podcast in the Library

essays on value of reading books

Are you looking for a creative way to engage your students in a project that will highlight student voice, leadership, collaboration and more? If so, then this is the project for you!

T his was a library partnership project with Nori Miwa’s Grade 4 class at FH Miller Jr PS in Toronto, Ontario. It culminated with the library being transformed into the Miller Podcast café where students were able to relax and enjoy their hard work and celebrate their peers.

Step 1 - How the project came to be

Nori Miwa is the Grade 4 teacher at FH Miller Jr. PS. Our school signed up to participate in the 2023 Forest of Reading program, which highlights Canadian books and encourages a love of reading. According to their website, “more than 270,000 readers participate annually from their school and/or public library, and all Canadians are invited to participate.”

We were thinking of an innovative way to promote these books to all the students in the school. We wanted to engage the students and get them to interact meaningfully with the books. We decided this would be a great leadership opportunity for the Grade 4 class and a perfect fit because several of her students are Library Helpers, not to mention avid readers!

Why a podcast?

Creating media texts not only allows students to express their creativity but also allows them to communicate their ideas through a different format while also removing barriers many students face, such as writing and/or reluctance to present in front of a class. Podcasts have different styles and formats. We focused on the interview style that fit our project the best.

They were ecstatic when we introduced the idea of creating a podcast to the class! Later, in their reflection, we learned that some students felt like a podcast could only be made by professionals, and others were a little nervous because it was new and “we did a lot of things in one day.” They also had no idea of the amount of work behind the scenes to create a podcast.

This was a complex project with many components. We will share how we broke it down into manageable sections and supported their learning through Universal Design for Learning Framework and digital tools (e.g., Book Creator and WeVideo).

Listening to podcasts is a great way to reach all students by providing an alternative format to access information. We chose the Blue Spruce nominated books as the topic for our podcast because of how they tapped into our students’ interests, identities, and lived experiences.

Students were given a brief description of each book and then had an opportunity to look through all the nominated books and choose two that captivated them. This was also how we formed the podcast groups. From that initial preview day, they each connected deeply with their chosen book.

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What initially drew you to the book, Be a Good Ancestor?

“It shows that the littlest things like a seed becomes something that we need in life like oxygen. This book really stands out because as soon as you go through the second page you realize that it is a repetitive pattern.” - Xavier, Grade 4

The four chosen books from the Blue Spruce 2023 nominated books were the following: Are you a Cheeseburger? Written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo, Abuelita & Me by Leonarda Carranza and illustrated by Rafael Mayani, Friends are Friends, Forever written by Dane Liu and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield, and Be a Good Ancestor co-written by Leona Prince & Gabrielle Prince and illustrated by Carla Joseph.

Student reading book for the very first time

As a Teacher-Librarian, I always try to ensure that I am selecting equitable and culturally relevant resources for our students. The above Blue Spruce nominated books exemplify all these traits. We knew that with such rich texts, students would connect and be able to dive deep into the stories.

Step 2 - listening to mentor podcasts

We started by listening to three different podcasts. We wanted students to hear a variety of different interview-style podcasts about books and identify elements that they liked but also what they did not want in their podcast. Example Podcasts we Listened to: Book Club for Kids , Off the Shelf , A Book Club for Kids by Kids.

While listening, students completed the Book Creator template below with their observations. Students could record their voice, type their responses, or use speech-to-text to type directly in Book Creator. Those built-in features support students and allow them to be independent. We gave feedback both in audio (written and/or audio) to guide them.

essays on value of reading books

Book Creator Podcast student response template adapted from the Classroom Nook

After the first podcast, we introduced another page in the Book Creator template to document good questions that they heard, and that might want to use or adapt for their podcast. We also discussed open-ended versus yes/no questions and which would be more effective.

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Step 3 - Planning the podcast

We knew this project needed to be scaffolded carefully in order for all students to be successful. We created a template in Book Creator that would support students’ research and planning. We were able to embed links to videos we wanted them to watch right into the template. Students watched videos of the authors reading their books (available through the Forest of Reading program), as well as any interviews they had done.

Podcast planning

Student planning page

The students were all able to work in one book collaboratively with Book Creator’s real-time collaboration feature and both teachers were able to access and give multimedia feedback .

The students’ podcast planning book was divided into sections that followed the segments in their podcast. We included only the relevant success criteria for each section on the side of each page. Students could move the checkmarks as they completed the sections.

Podcast planning success criteria

We also found this was an effective way for students to compile information for their podcasts all in one place and work collaboratively. While researching podcasts, we found that many ended with a “call to action.” This fits in perfectly with our goal of having students vote for their favorite Blue Spruce-nominated book. We also wanted to incorporate some media literacy into the project, so we gave them the option to include a sponsor ad for their podcast.

This scaffolded approach of breaking down the process helped our students success. Here is a remixable copy of the book you can use in your own classroom:

Image

During the planning stage of the project, we reached out to the authors of each book. We didn’t know if it would be possible, but hoped that they might answer our students’ questions. We were thrilled when all 4 authors and even one illustrator, instantly agreed to record their responses and send us the audio files so that we could include them in the podcast.

We noticed in this part of the project that several students took advantage of the option to record their ideas in Book Creator Digital tools like Book Creator can help remove potential barriers, allowing students to fully demonstrate their knowledge and share ideas.

Step 4: Script writing and rehearsal

This was a new writing format for some of our students. We found some examples by other students online that we shared with them to help them get started. We created a graphic organizer with the different segments to support their writing. Some used speech to text, while others wrote on paper first and then typed into the script.

Instinctively, they all colour coded their lines to make it easier during recording. The groups were fairly independent during this portion of the project. We gave feedback as needed and some revisions were made. Overall, we were quite impressed with how they understood the conversation format of the podcast. Listening to many examples at the start of the project clearly paid off!

Students had a period to practise their scripts while they were waiting for their turn to record. Some students even did extra practice at home (specifically those who require repetition before their reading becomes fluent). Providing that extra time relieved the anxiety for many of our students. When we co-created the success criteria with the students, they noted that there should be rehearsal time so that it sounds fluent and not choppy. One student said you should engage your audience with a friendly voice that has lots of expression, like you are “dancing with your voice.”

student writing script

Student writing script

Step 5: Recording the podcast

For our podcast project, we utilized WeVideo Classroom, which all students have access to through the school board. Groups worked collaboratively in the same project file and there is a feature that allowed us to provide feedback. Once finished, projects could be downloaded as MP3 files for easy sharing.

Students Recording podcast

Grade 4 student using our DIY sound box to record, one group recording their podcast and student using Razer Seiren mini microphone.

Step 6: Authentic audience: sharing with authors

One aspect that made this project so successful was the students knew they had an authentic audience beyond the school. Even more unbelievable, was the fact that the authors of the books not only were guests on their podcast, but also listened to their podcasts and sent messages to each group. This is a key part of all our projects.

Students are motivated to do their best work when it is being shared. We also instil in them that they will need to work hard and produce their best work. We have high expectations for all students and make sure that they are ALL successful through careful planning using the Universal Design for Learning Framework. With high expectations and meticulous work, the students also get a great sense of accomplishment.

Step 7: Our Celebration

We wanted a way to celebrate the hard work our students did on their podcasts. We have previously done a modern book tasting in the Library as a way to engage students and expose them to a variety of different genres. We decided to update this event by creating the Miller Podcast Café. Our goal was to design an authentic experience by transforming the library into a realistic café. When the door opened, there was a red carpet leading students into the library.

Each student received a menu which explained what they were to do while visiting the café. We wanted them to have dedicated time to listen to their peers' podcasts and give feedback. They completed the feedback in Book Creator so they would have access to the same tools they did when planning their podcast (e.g., record button; speech to text).

podcast tasting menu

At the end of the celebration, we told our Grade 4s that they would be running the café the rest of the week and hosting all the classes in the school. We reviewed the different roles & duties with them and gave them checklists that they could consult. The café was not something we initially thought would be part of the scope of this project, but it provided wonderful leadership opportunities for our Grade 4 students. They were able to support students and develop their communication skills, while also getting some early “job experience!”

Watch the café in action: Primary Classes Visit the Café and Junior Classes Visit the café. 

Here is a book that you can remix to create your own podcasting tasting:

Podcast tasting template

Amplify student voices: try podcasting with Book Creator

This podcast project was an experience that fostered creativity, collaboration, and leadership among our students. By transforming the library into the Miller Podcast Café, we celebrated their hard work in a way that made them feel proud of their achievements while providing an authentic experience.

This project not only promoted a love for reading but also offered a platform for students to express their ideas in a new and exciting format. The enthusiasm from students, parents, and even the authors reinforced the importance of providing opportunities for authentic, meaningful learning experiences.

If you’re looking to amplify student voices and create a project that truly connects your students to their learning, why not give podcasting a try in your own classroom? Book Creator makes it easy to get started, and your students will love the chance to showcase their creativity.

Ready to start your own podcast journey? Dive in with Book Creator today and see the impact it can have on your students!

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Nori Miwa (Co-Author)

Nori is a Junior Teacher at F. H. Miller. She has been teaching in the TDSB for 11 years and at Miller for 4. She enjoys creating a classroom community where students’ voices are heard and their interests celebrated. She believes in social justice and the importance of extra-curricular activities. She is often seen happily coaching throughout the year!

Mira Campbell

Mira Campbell has 18 years of experience as a Teacher-Librarian and Special Education Teacher with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). She was part of their Digital Lead Learner program for 8 years and is a Book Creator Ambassador. She enjoys collaborating with teachers during Library Partnership projects and loves to celebrate students’ hard work with big reveals!

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Bajaj Housing Finance turns multibagger on listing: Book profits or hold for future gains?

Bajaj housing finance ipo listing: with this blockbuster entry on dalal street, the key dilemma for investors is now whether to book profits immediately or hold onto their positions for long-term gains..

Listen to Story

Bajaj Housing Finance IPO

  • Bajaj Housing Finance shares debut with 114% premium over IPO price
  • Bumper listing is in line with what analyst expectations
  • Investors face dilemma: book profits or hold for long-term gains

Bajaj Housing Finance shares made a stellar debut at Rs 150 on the stock exchanges , more than doubling investors' wealth in one go.

The impressive listing marked a premium of 114% over the IPO price of Rs 70, closely matching what market analysts had predicted, further underlining the strong demand for the stock.

This bumper listing was not entirely unexpected, given the IPO's massive subscription rate and the high grey market premium leading up to the debut.

The listing success reflects investors' confidence in the company's solid financials and its association with the reputable Bajaj Group.

Book profits now or hold for long-term gains ?

Shivani Nyati, Head of Wealth at Swastika Investmart Ltd, commented on the stock's strong performance: “Bajaj Housing Finance, the housing finance arm of the renowned Bajaj Group, made a spectacular stock market debut, listing at Rs. 150 per share, a staggering 114% premium over its issue price of Rs. 70.”

Nyati explained that this performance was “widely anticipated, given the IPO's overwhelming subscription of 67.43 times and the sky-high grey market premium.”

According to her, the listing reflects investors' strong confidence in the company’s financial health, supported by the reputation of the Bajaj Group. She added that “Bajaj Housing Finance's consistent growth, coupled with its reasonable valuation, made it a highly attractive investment proposition.”

For those who secured IPO allotments, Nyati advised considering booking profits now. However, for investors planning to hold, she recommended “potentially setting a stop loss at Rs 135” as a precaution.

She further noted the importance of “continuously monitoring the company's performance and market conditions for informed decision-making.”

(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.) Published By: Koustav Das Published On: Sep 16, 2024

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  12. The Benefits of Growing Up and Reading Books

    The Value of Reading Books: Dispelling the Notion of Time Wastage Essay Reading books is a waste of time is a sentiment that has been echoed by some in the modern age, often influenced by the fast-paced nature of contemporary life and the proliferation of digital distractions.

  13. How Reading Makes Us More Human

    It's the kind of thing writer Joyce Carol Oates is talking about when she says, "Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice ...

  14. Essay on Benefits of Reading (1300 Words)

    3 - The benefits of reading. Reading is the best way to learn new things, broaden your knowledge, and find inspiration. It also stimulates your brain. Reading can help you keep your mind sharp and be in control of it. Reading in different genres helps you develop different skills in different ways.

  15. Reading empowers: the importance of reading for students

    Remember, reading empowers! If parents are not encouraging their children to read independently, then this encouragement has to take place in the classroom. Oscar Wilde said: "It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.". The importance of reading for students is no secret.

  16. The Importance of Reading Books in the Digital Age: Why ...

    Reading books allows us to develop a critical perspective and evaluate the validity of the information we encounter, making us more informed and discerning individuals.

  17. Essay on Books for Students and Children

    500 Words Essay on Books. Books are referred to as a man's best friend. They are very beneficial for mankind and have helped it evolve. There is a powerhouse of information and knowledge. Books offer us so many things without asking for anything in return. Books leave a deep impact on us and are responsible for uplifting our mood.

  18. The Lifelong Benefits of Reading: How Books Can Transform Your Life

    The rhythmic nature of reading, combined with the engagement of the mind, creates a soothing effect on the body. As we become absorbed in a book, our breathing slows, and our heart rate decreases, promoting a state of relaxation and stress relief. Additionally, reading before bed can improve sleep quality.

  19. 10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day

    Take the Free Assessment. You can also expect to learn new languages when you develop the habit of reading various books every day. 5. Improves Your Memory. Regular reading is a great exercise for your brain. If you read a fictional book, your brain is forced to remember the names and nature of various characters.

  20. Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

    Reading is the most effective way to get information about almost everything and is the key ingredient in learning for school, work and pleasure. On top of this, reading boosts imagination, communication, memory, concentration, and empathy. It also lowers stress levels and leads to a longer life.

  21. Essay on Reading Books

    500 Words Essay on Reading Books. The habit of reading books is not just a hobby but a complete lifestyle. The way it brings development in one's character and personality from within is just magical. The importance of reading is to give people the ability to self-study but has numerous other benefits. When you read, you explore your true ...

  22. The Therapeutic Value of Reading

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  23. Pedro Almodóvar's first book blends reality and fiction

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  24. Essay on Benefits of Reading

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  25. Why Manifestation Can Work. Here's The Science Behind It

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  26. Ames native Derek Anderson left the world with a literary legacy

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  27. Share on the Air: Creating a Podcast in the Library

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  28. Bajaj Housing Finance turns multibagger on listing: Book profits or

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