Think about the last time you read a book. Not one you were assigned to read for class or otherwise forced to flip through. When was the last time you chose to pick up a book and spend your precious free time reading? I’m guessing for some of you it may have been a while, and I don’t blame you. It seems like these days people just go to their phones for games and social media when we have some unexpected free time in our days. I’m guilty of this, too. Ever since I finally caved and hopped on social media about a year and a half ago, I have spent so much more time on my phone instead of literally anything else.
However, during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year here at Gordon, before I was on social media, I decided to try reading a new science fiction series. It seemed interesting, and the consensus online was that it was cheesy but a fun ride. With a whole lot of nothing to do for the next three months, I decided to give it a shot. What I didn’t expect to happen was for me to wrap up August with eleven books finished and a twelfth halfway done. This made me think more about reading fiction and inspired me to do some research into the hobby. The findings of which I am going to share with you now.
American neurologist Richard Restak has done extensive research into the effects of reading on the human brain. According to his findings, reading fiction, particularly with multiple characters, helps your brain keep track of multiple details at the same time. Many people, particularly older individuals, don’t read because they have trouble keeping track of all the different characters. The best way to improve your memory as you age is to begin reading now, while you are young and have an easier time tracking all the different characters and plot lines. If you keep up with this, you’ll be able to retain your memory skills as you age.
Additionally, reading fiction specifically helps boost your creativity. Creativity is far more than simply our imagination. It is crucial to our problem-solving process, opens our minds to new ideas, and promotes innovation. By exposing yourself to the impossibilities found in fiction, you will be incentivizing your brain to think outside the box.
Contrary to the bookworm stereotype, reading often has a proven effect of improving your theory of mind, which is a fancy way of referring to your ability to understand other people’s perspectives. According to Harvard senior researcher David Comer Kidd and cognitive science researcher Emanuele Castano, as you read fiction, you’ll regularly be putting yourself in the headspace of the characters you read about. This is actually the same process as when we interact with people, albeit in a different medium. By regularly reading from characters’ perspectives in novels, you’ll have an easier time putting yourself in the shoes of the people you interact with. This helps your empathy and understanding of other people’s emotions, as well as understanding and inferring their intentions. All of these greatly help with your social skills and improve your ability to interact with people in healthy, beneficial ways.
Of course, the bookworm stereotype does have some merit, which is why I’m not asking you to spend hours upon hours daily reading. You don’t have to read avidly to receive these benefits. In fact, it might be better if you don’t read constantly. At the end of the day, social skills are built best when socializing. Reading for a few minutes every week just helps your ability to develop skills you could very easily be neglecting. Plus, time is precious. I won’t ask you to sacrifice your time with friends to read. Instead, spend those fifteen to thirty minutes before bed with a book instead of Instagram or TikTok. In addition to improving your sleep by reducing exposure to blue light before bed, it will also invest tremendously in your brain’s health and longevity—a few minutes today to be healthier tomorrow.
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