I am a staunch advocate of reading books. I read ebooks and listen to audio, but I get the most impact from one I can touch. With an actual book, I turn the passive activity of reading into an active one.

During my journey throughout the book, I have a “debate” with the author. I become a rigorous student or devil’s advocate, depending on the subject matter.

I scribble notes and questions in the margins, and always flip back and forth. When I finish, neither I nor the book is ever the same. The book forever changed with my markings upon it like a prehistoric cave wall. And I, permanently altered with the indelible lesson implanted in my mind.

Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

And reading is that vehicle that will take you anywhere.

Here are 15 Reasons Why You Should Be Reading Books:

#1. Reading books makes you knowledgeable.

Think about this for a moment; usually, an author has spent considerable time crafting together a book’s material: months, maybe years honing their message. And you — as the reader, get the finished product at its best.

As you read, you are downloading the information in your brain. If you read great books, you will be further ahead of others who don’t read. You will be wiser and see the world differently. No matter what book you decide to read, it will give you a new piece of information you didn’t know beforehand.

The average person reads 2–3 books per year; meanwhile, the average CEO reads 4–5 books per month. That’s a tremendous difference in the scope of knowledge.

#2. Reading books makes you learn about other worlds.

The world is so big, and books are the cheapest way to travel to every corner of it. By reading books, you get a glimpse of other cultures, customs, and places. Reading opens our minds to new possibilities and new ideas, helping us experience and examine the world through others’ lives.

Reading history, you can travel back in time, and reading fiction, you travel to other worlds. Books expose you to everything. There would be fewer ignorant people in the world if more people read about different cultures.

Books can give you an understanding of the differences among people and why they exist.

#3. Reading books gives you motivation.

I love self-help and biographies, maybe too much. Still, I love them because I know that life is full of challenges. While these reads don’t solve my challenges, they boost my mindset, which helps me adapt to the challenges.

Reading will definitely provide you with that motivation to change your life. Any idea inside the pages can spark inspiration.

#4. Reading books helps with communication.

I learned about many effective communication forms by reading sales, psychology, listening, and leadership books.

The lessons gained were valuable for my personal life and career.

#5. Reading helps improve your writing skills.

Reading a well-written book affects your ability to become a better writer. I know when I get through a great book, I always write content. It may not be on the caliber of the book I read, but it is steady progress.

Reading great works of art inspires me. Many successful authors gained their expertise by reading the works of others. So, if you want to become a better writer, start by learning from previous masters.

You will learn to think as both — a reader and a writer.

#6. Reading can make you more empathetic.

When you read a tale of tragedy, you can’t help but become affected by it. When I read about slavery, I was reminded of the horror that humanity is capable of. When I read about wars, finding out the reasoning behind the bloodshed is astonishing. Either way, I often come away educating others and wanting to know more.

By reading a book, you become part of the story and feel the characters’ pain and other emotions in a raw form. Your mind becomes more aware of how different circumstances affect other people. Eventually, this improves your ability to empathize with other people — unless you are a sociopath.

#7. Reading books gives you a break from reality.

I began reading a book a week, during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I was tired of getting scared by the news and didn’t want to keep binging on Netflix. I needed a useful distraction and luckily decided to start reading all the books I bought over the years.

When you read a book, you become part of a world you didn’t even know existed, a welcome escape from the present one, at least for a bit.

#8. Reading books develops critical thinking skills.

One of the primary benefits of reading books is its ability to develop critical thinking skills, which are crucial for day-to-day decisions. I emphasize this often with my kids.

Reading requires an individual to think and process information differently from watching television or playing video games.

The more you read, the deeper your understanding becomes about your reading and application; this is how you expand your knowledge base.

#9. Reading broadens your horizons.

Sometimes, life becomes monotonous, and you just need a way to feel bold and adventurous.

Believe it or not, reading gives you a fresh take on life. Books challenge your thoughts and notions, expanding them to create a more precise understanding. And the broader genre of books you read, the more varied your knowledge and experience will become.

#10. Reading books are great for socialization.

Every time I finish a great book, I share it. Either by telling someone a story of it, Making a post, book review, or discussing it in my bi-weekly book club.

Humans are social beings, so with a great book, you can talk for hours. I love seeing someone light up when they speak of a great book they recently read. I recently lost track of time, talking with a stranger about The 48 Laws of Power, one of my favorite books by author Robert Greene. (Do yourself a favor and read his books).

#11. Reading books helps you learn about your history.

History plays an essential role in who we are today. By reading books, we understand the past and how it continues to affect us. A famous saying goes, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

Books give you a chance to learn about the world in general and see the patterns that rise again. Also, you see how people who lived long ago are very similar to us now.

#12. Reading books won’t strain your eyes.

Spending too much time on your phone can affect your eye health. I have access to any book I want on my phone, but I rarely read on it. After reading on a screen, I get bored, and my eyes get tired.

To my knowledge, no one has ever gone blind from reading too many books; if they did, there are also braille options. (Just being facetious — but remember books dont hurt your eyes).

#13. Books are better than movies; at least most are.

Numerous movies get adapted from books. However, if you read a book and then watch its movie, you will agree that the book is usually 10x times better.

Books are usually better than movies because they give more details than films. An author is only limited by the pages of their creativity. A movie is determined by a studio executive’s budget. So some scenes get edited, scrapped altogether, or new scenes are added to capture a new market.

The Dark Tower book by Stephen King is a great example. Great book — Movie not so great. So much was left out, and the pacing felt rushed — but that’s my opinion.

#14. Books expand your vocabulary.

Any book you read will provide you with words you didn’t know beforehand. Many writers use sophisticated concepts, and if you don’t know their meaning, you look it up for context in the story. This way, you end up incorporating such new words into your daily conversations.

Writers always use new and innovative words to spice up their writing to appeal to the readers. In turn, readers take extra efforts to understand such concepts to enrich their reading experience, thus expanding their vocabulary.

As you read, you come across new words, idioms, phrases, and writing styles. And if you have ever read a Michael Eric Dyson book, you will come across them all. That brother is a walking encyclopedia.

#15. Books can inspire you to step out of your comfort zone.

Books come in all kinds of genres and types. While many people like to find their favorite type and stick to it (me, lately), you will become a more well-rounded person if you read outside your comfort zone.

This will help you develop a wide array of interests. And sometimes, if you read books that you are not familiar with, you might just be inspired to try something new.

There you have it — 15 Reasons Why You Should Be Reading Books. Any one of these will do, and maybe you have some more that aren’t on my list. The whole point of this article was to help you see the benefits of that physical book. Don’t hesitate to order it, buy it from a book or thrift store, or borrow from your local library. I promise you it will be a great benefit.