What Are the Benefits of Reading?

What Are the Benefits of Reading

Reading is very essential to everyone. Benefits of reading stem from simply improving your day to day vocabulary to acquiring knowledge. Whether you are reading newspapers, books, blog posts, online news or magazines, you are exposing yourself to multiple streams of information which in turn shape your perspectives.

Here are a few lists of how reading can benefit you

Increases Knowledge

When you read an article, newspaper, or journals you are exposing yourself to a set of different ideas and perspectives of others. A lot of information that you previously have not been able to have access to are being exposed and consumed. For example, if you read a blog post on how to become a more disciplined person, you will learn about steps or habits that well-disciplined individuals are practicing on a daily basis and it might be an incentive for you to try those methods out and become a more disciplined person.

Similarly, if you read books about trending political issues, you will form well-rounded perspectives and opinions on a particular subject that you are fully informed about enough to make any decision that can affect your life. Reading will let you explore topics in greater depth than television or social media. It provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of a certain topic than a brief news from television or social media post.

Reduces Stress

One of the benefits of reading is it reduces stress. Everyday we are bogged down with a lot of activities — both mental and physical. Even if our body is resting, we cannot say the same about our brain. One of the hardest things to control is our thoughts. Not being able to control it can lead you to more stressful thoughts and to a more a depressing mood. Reading can, therefore, be a great way to unwind and put an end to all those ever-running and constantly emerging thoughts and provide an escape from the pressure of daily life. Personally, I do enjoy reading a print book rather than reading on a screen either before I go to bed or when I wake up in the morning.

At night it helps me sleep better since reading books takes away negative thoughts and relaxes my mind before bed. In the morning, it helps me start my day with a mindful and positive thought. How you start your day is just as important as how you end your day. If you start your day right, it will keep you in a good mood throughout the day. At the same time if you end the day right it will help you sleep better and get you ready for another positive morning.

Expands Empathy

Reading helps you develop empathy and understanding of others. Let’s say you are reading a book about Myanmar and you made a friend from Myanmar later that year . Sooner or later rather than questioning some differences in manners, foods, behaviors and habits that your friend displays, you start to look at those behaviors from a different angle and try to understand him/her. Because one of the benefits of reading is that it allows you to emotionally connect with other cultures. You will also gain access to the lives of characters in which you are reading. As we read, we tend to become more emotionally invested in the characters of the book. Therefore, it allows us to relate to the characters more and help us understand others even though we are not experiencing the same things that characters in the book are experiencing.

Boosts Brain Power

This is another benefit of reading that we tend to forget about. Just like our body needs a little bit of exercise, be it running or walking in a park to stay in shape, our brain needs the same level of exercise. That’s when reading comes into play. By reading you are giving a great workout to your memory system, the way you remember things in the books. It could be names of characters in the book, or places where the events occurred, or years when the main character died. The key is that reading gives your brain an activity which is to constantly familiar with facts you are reading. As we grow older, it is inevitable that we are going to experience a decline in memory. And the best way to slow it down or improve it is by reading books regularly.

Expands your vocabulary

It exposes you to a wide range of vocabularies and sentence structures. The more you read, the more you will encounter new words, phrases and the more you appear to widen your choice of vocabulary. It is called “Matthew Effect” from the bible, the more you begin with advantages, the more you accumulate advantages. The opposite also applies to those who did not have any advantages to begin with. The less will get lesser. You will find the significance of this in the early stages of young kids. Kids with wider literacy and reading levels tend to do well at school as they move up school grades.

When you encounter new words and phrases repeatedly, it tends to stay in your memory for a long time. It allows you to understand a sentence or context on a deeper level. There will be a variety of idioms and expressions that you can adopt and utilize when you write or speak. It builds credibility and creativity to your speaking. It will also helps you stand out in a setting where you have to speak to a large crowd.

5 Books Every Man Should Read

Whether you are reading just for 10 minutes or 30 minutes, it helps a lot with your mental health. There are several benefits of reading. Thus, there is never not a good time to read. Here we listed 5 books that every man should read in their life time. Books are eye-opening, transformative, relaxing, informative, and motivational. It serves as a guidance to our daily life problems, issues, and motivation.

5 Books to read as a Man

1.The Way of the Superior Man

It is powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges men to develop their fullest potential as human beings and partners. It encourages men to take responsibility for their lives, embrace their masculinity, and connect more deeply with the world around them.

Part One focuses on the purpose of a man and how to find and follow it. Deida suggests that a man should have a clear and compelling purpose in life, and he provides practical advice for discovering and living out that purpose.
Part Two is about sexual polarity and the dynamics of relationships between men and women. Deida suggests that sexual polarity, the differences and tensions between masculine and feminine energies, is a key factor in creating and maintaining a passionate, fulfilling relationship. He offers insights into how men can deepen their understanding of women, and how they can develop their own masculine qualities to become more attractive and powerful partners.

Part Three is about spirituality and the path to enlightenment. Deida suggests that a man’s purpose and relationships should be grounded in a deep spiritual connection to the universe, and he provides practical guidance for how men can develop a spiritual practice and cultivate awareness and presence in their daily lives.

2. Atomic Habits

“The Atomic Habits” is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life by focusing on small, consistent actions.The central premise of the book is that small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements over time. It covers the four laws of behavior change that Clear believes are essential for developing and maintaining good habits. These laws are: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.

3. How to win Friends & Influence People

The book provides practical advice and techniques for building positive relationships with others, both personally and professionally. It introduces the concept of treating others with respect and dignity, and offers techniques for handling people in a way that builds positive relationships. It outlines six principles for making others like and respect you. These include being genuinely interested in other people, smiling, and remembering people’s names. It also provides techniques for persuading others and getting them to see your point of view. Examples include listening to others and allowing them to express their ideas, and using diplomacy and tact when disagreeing with others.

4.Wild at Heart

“Wild at Heart” is a book by John Eldredge that explores the concept of masculinity and encourages men to embrace their true nature as warriors, adventurers, and lovers.

Part 1: The Wild Heart

It introduces the concept of the “wild heart” – the idea that men have an innate desire for adventure, risk-taking, and battle. Eldredge argues that society often suppresses these desires, leading to a sense of boredom, restlessness, and anxiety in men.

Part 2: The Wound

This section examines the wounds that men often experience in their lives, including the absence of a father, feelings of shame and inadequacy, and emotional and spiritual wounds. Eldredge argues that these wounds can prevent men from fully embracing their masculinity and pursuing their desires.

Part 3: The Healing

This section offers advice and techniques for healing the wounds of the past and embracing one’s true nature as a man. Eldredge emphasizes the importance of faith, relationships, and community in the healing process.

5. Manhood in the Making

“Manhood in the Making” is a book by anthropologist David D. Gilmore that explores the concept of masculinity across different cultures and historical periods.

Part 1: The Nature of Masculinity

It provides an overview of the concept of masculinity and its importance in human societies. Gilmore argues that masculinity is a universal concept that varies in its expression across different cultures.

Part 2: The Making of Men

This section examines the cultural practices and rituals that shape the development of masculinity in different societies. Examples include initiation rites, military training, and education.

Part 3: The Making of the Masculine Personality

This section explores the psychological and social factors that influence the development of masculine personality traits, such as aggression, competitiveness, and self-reliance. Gilmore argues that these traits are shaped by both biological and cultural factors. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context in which masculinity is expressed in order to appreciate its complexity and diversity.