Why Is Reading Beneficial?

The numerous benefits of reading good, quality books are unquestionable. In addition to broadening our horizons, and being a positive influence to our memory processes, it also enriches out inner world, as well as expands our imagination. Reading books also enhances our vocabularies, and allows us to develop a clearer mindset, which in turn, enables us to express our thoughts with a higher degree of clarity and understanding. Practically anyone who reads regularly can witness this in the context of his or her unique experiences. Those who used to be barely able to form intelligible sentences will notice how simple it has become to express themselves orally, to convey their ideas succinctly, and to use the appropriate words deftly. Not only will these positive changes happen automatically, but we will also come to notice that those useless and everyday filler words, which once were mainstays of our speech, will gradually disappear from our lexicon. Granted, given the wide range of subjects, it is practically impossible to read everything, however, the only books we should not fail to read are those acknowledged must-read classics (Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Melville’s Moby Dick, etc.). In summation, the reading of quality literature serves to greatly stimulate our imagination, which allows us not only to reflect upon the thoughts the author tried to express, the imagery he or she wanted us to see, but also to directly contemplate our existence, and ultimately, to see the world through completely new lenses. Those are the many reasons why I feel that reading is beneficial.*