Blog Post

Love To Read? Here Are All the Benefits!

Jason BoogJun 16 2023

Stress, anxiety, depression, and social isolation are on the rise, and reading books is a simple solution that anybody can try.Stories promote empathy, social perception, emotional intelligence, and other cognitive abilities that can lead to better physical and mental health. In a world struggling with cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviors on social media, a reading habit delivers digital nutrition.Research has proven that reading is a simple yet powerful tool to improve our mental wellness. We want all Fable readers to enjoy those same benefits.

An epidemic of anxiety and depression

Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm on the vast potential for harm posed by social media. The highest health official in the country cited a study that showed young people who spent more than three hours a day on social media "faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes including symptoms of depression and anxiety."The report included this absolutely frightening result from a study of social media use among college students:

"In a unique natural experiment that leveraged the staggered introduction of a social media platform across U.S. colleges, the roll-out of the platform was associated with an increase in depression (9% over baseline) and anxiety (12% over baseline) among college-aged youth. The study’s co-author also noted that when applied across the entirety of the U.S. college population the introduction of the social media platform may have contributed to more than 300,000 new cases of depression."

Millions of readers have discovered that reading books can help reduce daily stress and anxiety. One study found that 30 minutes of reading is as helpful as 30 minutes of yoga!While you can find plenty of self-help books that teach you strategies for improving your mental health, the simple act of reading has its own set of rewards. It's a kind of literary medicine!

The Benefits of Reading, According To Actual Readers!

Nobody has ever said, "I wish I read less." We know the activity is good for us, but we rarely notice all the benefits we reap from book reading. To find out more about the real-life experiences of people who love to read, we turned to the Books subreddit. This literary corner of Reddit counts millions of dedicated readers, and they had lots of answers to the question: "What are the concrete benefits of reading?"We rounded up some of those life-changing responses from these literary Reddit users.

1. Empathy

One often overlooked benefit of reading is the development of empathy. By exposing oneself to different perspectives and life experiences through literature, one can gain a better understanding of others. This is especially true for memoirs and fiction that offer insight into diverse backgrounds and cultures

2. Vocabulary Expansion

Reading is an effective way to expand one's vocabulary. Engaging with books introduces readers to new words, leading to improved spelling and language skills. It also magnifies your reading comprehension skills, opening up literary horizons for the future.

3. Imagination and Creativity

Reading stimulates the imagination in a unique way that other forms of media can't replicate. It allows readers to engage with stories and characters, fostering creativity in their daily lives.

4. Cognitive Enhancements

Regular reading can enhance attention span and concentration, which is especially important in a fast-paced and technology-centered world. Additionally, reading exercises the brain, improving comprehension, cognitive abilities, and analytical sense.

5. Stress Relief

Reading serves as a form of escapism, allowing readers to leave their own lives behind for a while. This can provide stress relief and serve as a relaxing activity.

6. Knowledge Acquisition

Books, especially non-fiction works, offer a wealth of knowledge about various subjects. They provide an in-depth exploration that surpasses the level of information typically found in videos, lectures, or articles.

7. Language Learning

For non-native speakers, reading can be an excellent way to learn a language. It provides immersion and exposure to different linguistic structures, aiding in language acquisition.

8. Social Connection

Reading can help combat feelings of loneliness and provide a sense of connection. By delving into books, individuals may find solace and a way to relate to others.

Start your reading journey today

It's important to remember that while these benefits have been shared and endorsed by these Reddit readers, individual experiences may vary. However, reading can undoubtedly offer numerous advantages, making it a valuable and enriching activity.It doesn't matter whether you choose a classic novel like "Jane Eyre" or "The Great Gatsby," a modern favorite like "The Book Thief" or "To Kill a Mockingbird" or a trending TikTok title like "Fourth Wing" or "Happy Place." No matter what book you choose, you'll still reap all of these rewards cited by great readers!

Find book clubs & book recommendations on Fable

Now that you know all the general health advantages and mental health benefits of reading, it’s time to start reading! Fable community members enjoy the many benefits of reading while making deeper human connections with other readers. Start by exploring our exceptional book recommendations from some of the world’s great tastemakers. Each Folio covers an important theme, and some of our Folio curators include LeVar Burton, Paulo Coelho, Wolfgang Puck, and Jasmine Guillory. Discover great book recommendations!Fable also makes it easy for readers to share their thoughts and connect with others through Reading Clubs. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination, to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone.Start your own book club today!Every week, we update our Fable blog with new features, interviews, and reader resources. Explore any of these articles to become a better reader and discover book recommendations in every genre.Book Recommendations for moms and kidsShadow and Bone -- More Books That Are MoviesBook recommendations for books by Black authors in every genreLove story book recommendationsClassic and free book recommendations

By Jason Boog

Jason Boog is a writer living in Los Angeles and part of the editorial team at Fable. OR Books published "The Deep End: The Literary Scene During the Great Depression and Today," his book about how different writers survived the Great Depression. Simon & Schuster’s Touchstone imprint published "Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age," his handbook about how to raise kids who love to read. His work has appeared in The Believer, The Awl, Salon, NPR Books, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Peace Corps Writers, and other outlets. He was the West Coast correspondent for Publishers Weekly.