Imagine standing barefoot in the cool, still waters of a lake.....Imagine sitting under a tree with birds chirping, the early morning sunshine pouring through its canopy.....Imagine having hot cocoa to drink right after coming in drenched in cold rain....That is exactly the feeling reading a book invokes in the minds of readers and book lovers!
There are many hobbies people engage into; and they are all good for them because they help them stay engaged and engrossed, taking a respite from the (sometimes not so perfect) world around them. Reading is one such hobby. And as a reading enthusiast, I would say, this is one hobby that positively affects your mind as well as your soul; captivating you in a world that is as amazing as it is real, despite existing merely in your imagination.
Engrossing oneself in a book is the best feeling ever for a reader. Far removed from the stress of the daily grind and totally oblivious to the world around you, reading has the magical quality to transport you to places that you can create and visualise with your mind's eye.
Have you seen a child absorbed in reading his favourite book? Or someone who is totally captivated by the story they are reading? There is nothing more pleasing to the eye than looking at these faces that - as you can immediately note on seeing them - express nothing but a feeling of pure bliss!
Research has shown that when someone reads slowly, immersing themselves in the story at hand, their experiences are rich in sensory detail and engage the brain in emotional and moral questioning. This immersion is buoyed by the way the brain manages to understand the language rich in detail, insinuation and metaphor: by creating a mental image that draws on the same regions of the brain that would be active if the act were actually unfolding in real life. The emotional circumstances and moral predicaments that literature is so full of are also a dynamic exercise for the brain, propelling the reader inside the heads of the fictitious characters and even, in certain cases studies suggest, increasing the reader's real-life capacity for empathy.
The 'deep reader' as such a reader is referred to, is sheltered from distractions and attuned to the tones of the language; and enters a state that psychologist Victor Nell, in a study of psychology of pleasure reading, equates to a hypnotic trance. Nell found that "when readers enjoy the experience the most, the pace of their reading actually slows. The combination of fast, smooth decoding of words; and slow, leisurely progress on the page, gives 'deep readers' the time to enrich their reading analysis, reflection, exploration and their own memories and opinions. It gives them time to form an intimate relationship with the author - the two of them involved in a long and ardent conversation like people falling in love!"
Interestingly, scientists have found that the human brain was not cut out for reading, the way it was for other things like talking, sleeping, eating and figuring out solutions to problems. According to Maryanne Wolf at the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tutts University and author of 'Proust and the Squid: The story and Science of the Reading Brain,' 'human beings were never born to read.' Unlike the ability to comprehend and create spoken language, which in normal circumstances will develop according to a program dictated by our genes, the ability to read needs to be conscientiously acquired by each individual. The 'reading circuits' we build are engaged from the structures in the brain that evolved for other purposes - and these circuits can be weak or they can be robust, depending on how often and how vigorously we use them.
Reading, thus, is an acquired ability for humans; and is essential for their intellectual and emotional development. The human brain has modified and created new connections to fathom letters and texts. The human brain reads by creating a mental picture of the text based on the placement of the page in the book and the word on the page. This is an acquired skill that one can enhance only as much as one reads.
Research has also shown that reading has several advantages as well in addition to preserving reading as a skill as well as perpetuating a vital part of our culture in the form of novels, poems and other forms of literature. Some of these advantages are discussed below.
Stress reduction: Studies have shown, that a mere six minutes after getting engrossed in a book, readers start feeling less stressful and more relaxed.
Increased vocabulary: Reading has people look at new words that may not be part of our routine; which teaches us new words as well as their meanings and usage.
Clarity of thought and speech: The new words we learn in our reading are used in our everyday language automatically. This helps us express ourselves better and in precise words. It also makes us a better listener as we really understand what someone else is trying to say. We learn to really listen and not just hear them, in turn helping us become better human beings.
Increased flow of knowledge: The more you read, the more you get to know about things. A book tells you about far off places and things that you would never otherwise know about unless you visit them all.
Increased ability at abstract thinking: Reading increases the ability of abstract thinking by increasing one's power of imagination. This can help when looking for solutions to problems or by trying to understand a situation from someone else's perspective.
There are several more advantages of reading that become evident the more one explores the many facets of reading. But suffice it so say, that just as the body requires regular exercise to stay fit, so does the brain require the regular exercise of reading to sustain mental health. Reading is undoubtedly one of the best hobbies one could have; and something that is definitely good for anyone and everyone.
Happy, sad, adventurous, humourous - no matter what mood one is in - there is definitely a book out there for you. You just need to find it.
Happy reading!
