What benefits will we get when we get used to reading culture?
According to the "Most Littered Nation In the World" in March 2016, Indonesian public interest in reading was ranked 60th out of 61 countries. This is a condition that is quite alarming. Though reading is an activity that provides many benefits. Many people are successful and smart because they love reading. What benefits will we get when we get used to reading culture?
A reading culture can help individuals grow to be smarter, healthier, and even nicer. This, in turn, will have tremendous benefits to society in terms of productivity, cost savings, and perhaps, even an overall more peaceful and civilized citizenry.
For individuals, developing a reading culture is important because reading has both cognitive and physical benefits to people at all stages of life. This means that it's important to read continuously from childhood, to adulthood, and all the way to retirement age because not only does reading make you smarter, it also makes you healthier.
First, I think we can all agree that reading is a an important foundational skill that individuals need for learning. In fact, according to a Reader's Digest online article, children as young as six months who read books with their parents several times a week have stronger literacy skills, score better at intelligence tests, and can land better jobs in adulthood than non-readers. That's because through reading, we are exposed to more words compared to watching videos or even intelligent conversation. It's this exposure to words that scientists believe helps increase our intelligence and equip ourselves to become better learners.
As Dr. Seuss famously wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” In other words, reading can help broaden our knowledge, open up new worlds, and take us places. It can take us from being average students while young to becoming a well-respected professional in adulthood. Just think about the fact that most professional careers today require a certain amount of reading to get there. From doctors reading about human anatomy to physicists reading about scientific theories, and lawyers reading books upon books of jurisprudence and case law. All of those professions require a certain amount of reading, after all.
Second, aside from making us smarter, reading fiction can also make us nicer. Believe it or not, reading stories about individuals from different cultures and walks of life, can actually help increase our Emotional Intelligence (EQ). A 2013 study has found that people who read fiction showed a noticeable increase in empathy one week later, compared to those who only read newspapers. This is because by reading fiction, we learn put ourselves in different characters' shoes and see the world from different perspectives. This can only help us get better at understanding other people's point of view and be more sensitive to their feelings.
Finally, reading can also help us live longer, healthier lives. According to a 2009 study, even just 6 minutes of reading is enough to reduce our stress levels by up to 68%. This is impressive, considering the same study found that reading was actually more effective than at reducing stress than listening to music (61%), drinking coffee (54%), taking a walk (42%), or even playing video games (21%). This means that reading regularly is one way help us avoid stress-related illnesses and diseases.
In addition, reading is also a great way to keep our minds active, even in old age, which scientists believe could be key to fighting Alzheimer's disease. Scientists believe that individuals who challenges their brain with highly stimulating activities like reading and playing chess from their 20s until up to their 60s are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who engage in less stimulating activities.
Now, what does this mean for society?
Just imagine, if a reading culture can help produce a population that is smarter, nicer, and healthier, what kind of society could we build? From a pragmatist's point of view, we could see that a healthier population means less expenditures on health, while a smarter population could mean a more productive population, who can all contribute to the economy. However, what's most important is the impact that a population with high emotional intelligence can contribute to society. Perhaps, this could lead to a political climate that thrives on discourse without resorting to fighting. Or a population that is more empathic of every citizen's needs. Perhaps, I'm just imagining a reading culture utopia. Nonetheless, there really is no way to know for sure, until we can actually nurture a population that values reading the way it should be.
Hope this helps!
Sources:
View this answer on Musing.io
Hey there!
Yes there are untold benefits in fostering a reading culture, whether within a localised community or nation-wide.
The best benefits are not just related to employment or marketability. In a sense, they cannot be quantified. Success may result from being well-read, but that shouldn't be the reason why we should encourage people to read.
In my opinion, the most important benefit is that it aids in our personal growth as individuals. By reading, we gain more insight into the different cultures of the world. Reading works of fiction (i.e. novels, plays) or non-fiction (i.e. history, biographies) exposes us to perspectives that differ from our own. This translates into more empathy and sensitivity, whilst guarding against parochialism.
(:
Reading has many benefits
It enhances our vision.
We get information about the latest technology.
It broaden our knowledge.
We can get know how of different cultures.
It sharpens our mind.
It gives solution to many our problems.
There is a popular saying that “good readers are good leaders”...when we get used to reading culture in our society it will create alot of more great leaders who will change the world positively.....
Reading makes someone to have access to informations that will make them a better person in life and useful to the society,,reading makes you
more educated,more informed,it can also make you to be more intelligent and more vocal and confident.....
Reading is also a tool that can make you feel relaxed and make you free from worries which could lead to depression....
The world will be a better place if everyone starts having a good reading culture....
Here are some benefits of reading:
1. Reading is an active mental process.
When reading, You will reveal many things that you don't know yet. In this process, you will use your brain's gray cells to think and become smarter.
2. Reading will increase your vocabulary.
You can learn how to express the meaning of key words in other words. Books, especially challenging ones, will show you so many words that may be different we have not yet gotten.
3. Reading will increase concentration and focus.
You need to be able to focus on the book that you are reading for a long time. Excluding, internet or e-mail that only contains brief information, the book will bring up the story as a whole. Therefore we need to train to read. Like muscle, you will get better in the sector.
4. Building confidence.
The more you read, the more knowledge you get. With increasing knowledge, will further build confidence. So this is a chain reaction. Because you are a good reader, people will look for you to find answers. Your feelings for yourself will be better.
5. Improve memory.
Many studies that show that you don't use your memory, you can lose it. Reading, not even a game, will help you stretch your memory "muscles" in the same way. Reading is for the memory of details, facts and images in the literature.
6. improve discipline.
Finding time to read is something we already know to do. However, who makes the schedule to read books every day? Very little. Because of recognizing, increasing the activity of reading books into your daily schedule and holding on to the times that will improve discipline.
7. increase creativity.
Reading about the diversity of life and opening yourself to new ideas and information will encourage your creative side, because your brain will absorb into your thinking process.
8. Reducing boredom.
One of the habits that I have is that, making me feel bored, then I will take the book and start reading it. What I found by holding on to this freedom was that I became more interested in him and I was no longer bored anymore. I mean, if you feel bored, You will feel better by reading a good book.
Here are some benefits of reading:
1. Reading is an active mental process.
When reading, You will reveal many things that you don't know yet. In this process, you will use your brain's gray cells to think and become smarter.
2. Reading will increase your vocabulary.
You can learn how to express the meaning of key words in other words. Books, especially challenging ones, will show you so many words that may be different we have not yet gotten.
3. Reading will increase concentration and focus.
You need to be able to focus on the book that you are reading for a long time. Excluding, internet or e-mail that only contains brief information, the book will bring up the story as a whole. Therefore we need to train to read. Like muscle, you will get better in the sector.
4. Building confidence.
The more you read, the more knowledge you get. With increasing knowledge, will further build confidence. So this is a chain reaction. Because you are a good reader, people will look for you to find answers. Your feelings for yourself will be better.
5. Improve memory.
Many studies that show that you don't use your memory, you can lose it. Reading, not even a game, will help you stretch your memory "muscles" in the same way. Reading is for the memory of details, facts and images in the literature.
6. improve discipline.
Finding time to read is something we already know to do. However, who makes the schedule to read books every day? Very little. Because of recognizing, increasing the activity of reading books into your daily schedule and holding on to the times that will improve discipline.
7. increase creativity.
Reading about the diversity of life and opening yourself to new ideas and information will encourage your creative side, because your brain will absorb into your thinking process.
8. Reducing boredom.
One of the habits that I have is that, making me feel bored, then I will take the book and start reading it. What I found by holding on to this freedom was that I became more interested in him and I was no longer bored anymore. I mean, if you feel bored, You will feel better by reading a good book.
Here are some benefits of reading:
1. Reading is an active mental process.
When reading, You will reveal many things that you don't know yet. In this process, you will use your brain's gray cells to think and become smarter.
2. Reading will increase your vocabulary.
You can learn how to express the meaning of key words in other words. Books, especially challenging ones, will show you so many words that may be different we have not yet gotten.
3. Reading will increase concentration and focus.
You need to be able to focus on the book that you are reading for a long time. Excluding, internet or e-mail that only contains brief information, the book will bring up the story as a whole. Therefore we need to train to read. Like muscle, you will get better in the sector.
4. Building confidence.
The more you read, the more knowledge you get. With increasing knowledge, will further build confidence. So this is a chain reaction. Because you are a good reader, people will look for you to find answers. Your feelings for yourself will be better.
5. Improve memory.
Many studies that show that you don't use your memory, you can lose it. Reading, not even a game, will help you stretch your memory "muscles" in the same way. Reading is for the memory of details, facts and images in the literature.
6. improve discipline.
Finding time to read is something we already know to do. However, who makes the schedule to read books every day? Very little. Because of recognizing, increasing the activity of reading books into your daily schedule and holding on to the times that will improve discipline.
7. increase creativity.
Reading about the diversity of life and opening yourself to new ideas and information will encourage your creative side, because your brain will absorb into your thinking process.
8. Reducing boredom.
One of the habits that I have is that, making me feel bored, then I will take the book and start reading it. What I found by holding on to this freedom was that I became more interested in him and I was no longer bored anymore. I mean, if you feel bored, You will feel better by reading a good book.