Reading, or putting yourself in someone else’s imagination, is a beautiful thing. It places you in an author’s made up world with characters you can relate to or feel for. Reading is used for entertainment, but it benefits your mind  more than you’d think. For example, according to the Markham Public Library, reading increases concentration and exercises the brain (2020). While reading, you remember the different characters and their plotlines throughout the story, which strengthens memory, a very important skill necessary to humans. Strengthening helps  with work or simple tasks like grocery shopping.  

Reading can also increase concentration by paying attention to every little detail to understand the full story. Better concentration can help you excel in your profession or school stopping you from getting out of focus. Reading increases your vocabulary; as you read, you will discover new words or phrases to explain a situation or emotion. Reading books is also “the best way to increase your exposure to new words, learned in context” (Healthline, 2019).  

A good habit to relieve stress is reading. When you feel overworked or worried about something, you can slip into someone else’s world and relieve your mind for a few hours. It also improves analytical thinking (2022). When reading a murder mystery, you are constantly trying to put clues together to figure out who the suspect is.  This skill can be further used in real life scenarios like tasks that require complex thinking.

Lastly, reading brings people together.“A person who reads and is open to the ideas which he or she encounters has more opportunities to connect with others of like knowledge and interests” (1 Minute Books, 2022). Reading builds our empathy for people in different situations. In many books, it discusses people and their journeys. Most of these people come from different backgrounds and face different challenges, which helps you empathize with them. This helps you make new friends or comfort them in tough times.  When two people share an interest in the same book or genre, it brings them closer. They have something in common, so they bond over it. You can also read a book that you would not normally read. When your friend or partner loves it, you can understand their viewpoint. It shreds a new light into how they think and feel. Reading is a beautiful thing that people tend to avoid because they think it is slow and boring. Reading is enjoyable; you just need to know what you like.