The Benefits of Reading | Why I Love to Read and What I Learn From It

Hey, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. Today’s post was inspired by another post I wrote, an LTB post about book addicts vs. book lovers. One of the questions was “what are the merits of being one or the other?” and it got me thinking about all the merits of reading.

In this post, I’ll be talking about why I love to read and what the benefits of reading are–what I get out of it and why it’s helpful.

It’s fun

Wow, what an obvious way to start. Yeah, I know. Hear me out. I feel like one of the reasons a lot of people–especially teenagers–don’t like to read is because they have to do it for school and those books don’t interest them. Last year, when I was a freshman, I had to read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Night by Elie Wiesel, and part of How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. Of Mice and Men was alright. I didn’t like it that much, and it was really sad; Night was actually really interesting; How to Read was pretty boring. So, I get it. Books you have to read for English class might not be your favorite.

However, outside of school, I choose what I want to read, and that makes it a lot more fun. I like to read about magical or make-believe worlds, so I’m drawn towards fantasy. If you’re into something else, you’re in luck. There’s pretty much something for everyone out there. If you like crime, mysteries would be great for you; if you like history, historical fiction. Reading can be something enjoyable, if you have the right book.

I get to learn about other people’s experiences, backgrounds, disabilities, etc.

When reading about someone else, there’s bound to be some aspect of the book that I don’t know about. This is the perfect opportunity to learn about whatever it is. I’m always open to learning new things and books are a major contributor to how I learn. The things I learn from books aren’t necessarily academic, but they’re just as important as the subjects I’m taught in school. For example, here are two books that have stuck with me because of what I learned from them:

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani – At the time when I read this, I knew next to nothing about the Partition of India. With this story, I learned about the journey that many families had to take when they were kicked out of their homes. The book is written in letter form, from Nisha, our twelve-year-old, half-Muslim, half-Hindu protagonist, to her mother who died during childbirth.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott – Besides this book being absolutely heartbreaking, it also has great representation. Stella and Will, the two MCs–who we get dual-perspective from–both have cystic fibrosis. They’re not allowed within six feet of each other, which makes it exceedingly hard when they start to fall for one another. In this story, I learned about the obstacles both characters had to face and how they dealt with them in their own ways and together.

Which brings me to my next point. . .

I learn to empathize with people who have different experiences

Just like how I get to learn what the different experiences are, I also get to learn how to empathize with them and see things from their perspective. It opens my mind and makes it easier for me to accept someone else’s point of view. This goes for everyone; if you have a small understanding of what someone is going through, you’ll be more likely to be able to see it from their view.

It’s relaxing

I always read before I go to bed because it’s a nice way for me to wind down in the evenings. It’s something that doesn’t involve screens (unless I’m reading it online), but nevertheless, it still calms me down so I can get to sleep easier. I’m someone who takes a very long time to fall asleep, even with reading, but I think it helps.

It helps me as a writer

A common piece of advice authors give out is “read books.” And it’s really true; it’s an essential thing for aspiring writers to do: learn from other writers. When I read books, I’m learning what makes a good book and what I personally like and dislike. I see what makes good dialogue and how to build relationships between characters in a natural and realistic way. Reviews are also a great way to learn how to write better. Seeing what other people think about certain aspects of a book can help me make sure I’ve covered a similar aspect in my own writing well enough.

It strengthens my vocabulary and general knowledge

Like I mentioned above, I get to learn about other people’s experiences. This opens my brain to more of the world and increases my knowledge. On top of that, my vocabulary is strengthened, which makes it easier to communicate with others around me.

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Those are all my points of why I love to read and how it benefits me. I had a lot of fun writing this post and sharing my love of this hobby. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Why do you love to read? What are some benefits you get from it?