We all know from school that it is useful to read books. But this rarely motivates us to pick up an old-fashioned novel instead of a smartphone. The abstract speculation that classical literature develops taste and emotional intelligence cannot compete with the simple pleasures of social media. And in the fight for attention, Dickens is clearly losing to popular videos on Youtube. 

Books require a high concentration of attention, free time, and effort to understand the plot’s intricacies. Not surprisingly, in our high-speed time, people increasingly prefer short news stories over multi-volume epics. 

And yet, the words of Somerset Maugham that “instilling a habit of reading means building a refuge for yourself from almost any misfortune in life” have not lost their relevance over the past century. Moreover, they have found confirmation in numerous scientific studies. If you don’t have enough motivation to choose a book tonight over a TV series, we recommend that you check them out. 

Brain training 

Jane Austen’s novels, for example, are not just one of the many ways to while away the evening. It is also a surprisingly effective tool for the development of higher cognitive functions. At least, that’s what scientists at Stanford University say. 

In the process of thoughtful reading, the blood circulating in the brain actively enters those parts of it that are associated with cognitive abilities. Scientists discovered this in a simple experiment: they invited a group of adults to read an excerpt from Mansfield Park while inside an MRI. It turned out that Jane Austen trains memory, attention, planning ability, and critical thinking well. 

Lead researcher Natalie Phillips stresses: “It’s not just what we read that matters, but our reflections on what we read.” This is why the love of literature is one of the healthiest hobbies for the mind. While social media promotes clip thinking and distracted attention, mindful reading of books makes us more focused. 

Reduced stress 

Modern psychotherapy offers many ways to deal with the ubiquitous stress and increasing anxiety, from mindfulness practices to the latest developments in pharmacology. But do not forget about another way to restore mental balance, relieve muscle tension and reduce heart rate, which has been tested in practice by many of the greatest minds of the past centuries. Yes, we talk about reading again. 

Arthur Schopenhauer wrote that it is enough to pick up a good book and “now you feel refreshed, lightened and cleansed, lifted and strengthened as if you had refreshed yourself by bathing in a pure spring.” Researchers at the University of Sussex experimentally confirm his claim: Reading fiction for just six minutes reduces stress levels by 68%. 

A good book works faster and more efficiently than listening to music (61%) or walking outdoors (42%). The author of the study, Dr. Lewis, emphasizes: “It doesn’t matter which book you choose, the main thing is that it captures you. This is more than just a distraction from pressing problems; reading fiction requires the active involvement of the imagination, which stimulates your creativity. 

Improve memory 

Love for Thomas Mann can serve as a good prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. This is evidenced by the results of a study by the University of Rush (Chicago), which was attended by 294 people aged 80 years and older. They were offered tests for memory and thinking and questionnaires in which people indicated how often they read, visit libraries and write letters. 

People who were more likely to engage in mentally complex activities during their lives experienced a slower decline in memory at an older age. These data support the hypothesis of the cognitive reserve of mental functions. It says that challenging mental tasks strengthen brain cells and their connections, forming a kind of “immunity” to senile dementia. 

Indeed, when you immerse yourself in War and Peace, your brain needs to remember many names, characters, plot lines, and other essential details in order not to lose the narrative thread and understand what’s what. This is as good for the brain as regular sports training is for the body. 

For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that scientists attributed not only reading but also solving puzzles, studying Morse code, and even an internship in a taxi to a “mentally complex activity.” 

Development of critical thinking 

The skill to separate the main from the secondary and analyze a lot of information today is more useful than ever. And it is best to develop it by reading multi-page novels. Unlike non-fiction essays and scientific articles, good fiction does not give unambiguous answers to questions and leaves many of them open at all. This fosters in us a tendency to leisurely reasoning and teaches reflection. 

People who prefer Salinger to news releases have less need for so-called “cognitive shutdown,” i.e., striving as quickly as possible to make an unambiguous decision on a particular issue. This means they can more easily deal with uncertainty without feeling anxious, stimulating creativity and avoiding hasty judgments.