Today - Friday 6th September - is known in the UK as National Read a Book Day. Yep, that’s right! You’ve got no excuses today! Pick that book up and finish a couple chapters.
We can understand the reasons why reading has become less of a pastime in 2024 than it was even 10 years ago. With the onset of TikTok, the explosion in TV shows and movies available for home viewing, as well as more people nowadays seemingly taking pictures of their books instead of reading them, how are you expected to flip a cover and start reading?
Whilst you have the final say, we wanted to share some reading facts that may help sway your opinion towards picking up that paperback…
To Read or Not To Read?
A UK survey conducted back in 2020 revealed that 20% of people read everyday… with 20% of people not reading at all! The other 60% flickered between a few times a week and every few months.
Now among every expense in life, paying £9.99 for a streaming service seems a lot more appealing than £9.99 for one measly paperback. God forbid ever paying for a crisp new hardback. But to that, we say why not join a third of the UK and read eBooks or listen to audiobooks - with that proportion growing everyday. Through a little site called Amazon, you can sign up to eBook and audiobook subscription services and get a whole crop of goods - just like Netflix!
Get Rich Quick
Regular reading improves your literacy skills and proficiency, leading to an improved outlook on your job prospects. In fact, countries where more adults read are proven to have higher incomes per capita than those who don’t.
Now don’t go adding your GoodReads account to your CV or anything, it sadly doesn’t work exactly like that, but with more developed linguistic skills, you’ll probably be more keen and feel better qualified to tackle trickier work. Your ability to digest information will increase, allowing you to understand and complete tasks easier. And all you did was read a few pages each night!
Words Connect Us All
Not to bring the mood down, but it’s often said that individuals in the 21st century often feel more secluded and isolated. This is down to the previously mentioned impact of social media sites like TikTok which make us feel closer but also cause us to be more judgemental and anxious.
Well, good news! Science shows that 19% of readers feel less lonely when reading. This is down to the cognitive activity involved with following a narrative, meeting characters and challenging your intellect. On top of that, with communities like reading groups bringing fellow bookworms together to discuss and celebrate titles, you can meet like minded individuals through the act of opening books!
Sticks and Stones…
In a divided world, where adults are more commonly affected by a mental health disorder, people need to find comfort and consolement in healthy ways. A poll taken with adult readers show that as little as 30 minutes of reading a week can lead to a greater life satisfaction.
Returning to the troubles of social media, which is crammed with division and altruism, can flare feelings of stress and depression. Books are separated from the World Wide Web, being a self-contained activity which if done properly, will offer complete isolation from anything technology intensive. This switch-off has also proven to greatly relax readers over a TV show or movie, with its non-invasive presentation.
The World At Your Fingertips
Ever wanted to ride a dragon? To dive into the depths of the ocean? To warp through time and space? That’s just the opening page of the endless opportunities books allow the reader to pursue and enjoy.
Whilst imagination is not dependent on written work, and equally-enthralling adventures can be had at the cinema, combining your imagination with the imagination of an author can lead to majestic places. We’ve always wanted to harness the power of magic, but would you have been able to dream up the mystical world of Hogwarts all by yourself? Just remember, that nothing filmed for the movies or recorded for radio can ever beat the endless possibilites your mind can conjure up.
Take the plunge. Choose books. The best-looking cover. The most appealing story. The most enthralling characters. A delicate paper. A sturdy leather-binding. The distinctive smell of an old bookstore. The firm click of an eReader. The soothing tone of an audiobook narrator.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to begin your literary journey, we have an excellent collection of titles in mind…
