20 Reasons to Read Books
Not that most of us need more reasons to read books. 🙂 But if you ever run into one of those “why do you read?” conversations, these might be fun to throw in.
Why You Should Read:
20 Reasons
Ready for the count-down? Here goes!
20. Easy-to-use (No manual required)
Open. Read. It’s that simple.
19. Great pause, fast-forward, and rewind features.
Flip a page. Flip it back. Insert a book mark. Or remember a page number. You don’t even need batteries or a plug!
18. Decent resale value
Sure, it depends on the book. Some of them keep only 10-30% of their resale value, but there are a lot of types of entertainment that have no resale whatsoever.
Of course, you could also keep them and re-read them. Because why get rid of something you like?
17. Great effects – waaaay better than CGI
It’s called imagination. You can make it as intricate or vague as you like. Some people focus on emotion and feelings. Other people love to picture intricate images and design the worlds in their minds. Or you do both as you feel like it.
16. No hidden fees
You pay one charge up front. That’s it – tax included. You don’t get charged extra if you don’t read at a certain speed, if you read it more than once, or if you don’t finish it. One charge – that’s all. There’s not even any interest.
15. No commercial breaks – no upgrade required
That’s right. The only thing that’s going to pause your reading enjoyment is you. Or other people. If you have other people around you – you can always lock them out. Turn off your phone. That sort of thing.
It’s up to you.
14. Single-player and multi-player modes
You can read it by yourself. You can read it and then discuss it in a book club. You can read it to someone. You can have it read to you. You can take turns reading sections. You can even listen to a stranger read it.
So many options.
13. No license renewal
If you’re over 20, you lived through the transition from buying software and getting a cd with the installation information that works forever on as many computers as you want to buying software and having to pay a yearly license fee or new fees for additional users. Well, not for books! Once you buy one, it’s yours!
12. Millions of different models to choose from
And that’s probably an understatement. A major understatement. There are so many different genres of both fiction and nonfiction as well as thousands of different authors with different publications.
Oh, and lest I forget, you don’t have to choose between them. You can read as many or as few as you like.
11. Low budget
What other fun activity can you do repeatedly for under $10? Ok. Don’t answer that. But as far as hobbies go, reading is relatively cheap.
10. Teaches empathy
Reading stories gives you new perspectives into other people’s problems, which in turn leads to empathy. Something that can help you do better in interpersonal relationships whether they’re business relationships or closer than that.
9. Helps with school work
Learn more vocabulary. Improve reading comprehension skills. Increase your understanding of plot and other literary devices. The list goes on and on.
8. Increases IQ
Want to read more about why? Read the lifehack article. For the short version, enlarging vocabulary and improving empathy helps.
7. Available for free
Remember what I said about it being cheap? Well, if you’re willing to take a trip to the library, it’s not only cheap – it’s free! Support your local libraries! And check out neighborhood lending libraries and Project Gutenberg!
6. Broadens experiences
How else can you be an astronaut, a pirate, a court lady, a space-ship captain, and a soldier in the War of 1812? In the same week?
Not to mention black, white, heterosexual, homosexual, male, female, religious, atheistic, shy, outgoing, nerdy, social, racist, broad-minded, and so on. No matter what the demographic or point of view, there are books that can expose you to them and give you a wider understanding of the world and its people.
5. Fun when you’re sober
I know, right? Who knew that was even possible?
Readers. That’s who. Oh, you can read buzzed or drunk if you like, but as you know, cognizance goes down as alcohol intake goes up. So the less alcohol you have, the more likely you are to enjoy the book! Who’d’ve thunk?
4. Great way to meet people
I know I mentioned book clubs (great way to meet new people, especially when you like having a cue for breaking the ice); however, reading books in public? Great icebreaker.
Well, unless you’re trying to read. Then, people asking you what you’re reading can actually be a bit aggravating. In fact, I’d recommend that you only read in public when reading is not the actual goal. Ooh, or unless you do it on your phone or kindle. Then, people don’t know.
3. Portable
I love paper books. On the other hand, having both paper and electronic books have made reading more portable than ever. Want to take a paperback with you to work? Why not? Want to take 10 books with you for your two 14 hour flights (14 there and 14 back) but don’t have room in your carryon? Download them on your phone. Then, you don’t even have to hide the cover.
I’ve even read while getting medical treatments and while donating blood and plasma. You can read just about anywhere, and it is amazing.
2. It’s sexy
Reading is sexy. It’s brainal. Or maybe it’s brainal foreplay. I don’t know – I get confused.
The point is that people who read tend to be interested in other people who read. That hints that you might have something in common. Plus, they’re usually turned-on by brains. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s a case of like pulling to like.
Oh, and speaking of like – if you read similar books? That’ll definitely get the other person’s attention.
 1. Teaches you to write
What else would I make number 1?
As much as reading is a great enjoyable experience, it’s also one of the top ways to learn to write. Like William Faulkner said, learn by example and then go out and make what you learned your own.
Go. Find time to read and then make time to write.
