Reading can add a chapter to your life!

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! There’s a study done by Yale University that says people who read books tend to live loger than those who don’t. Almost two years longer, in fact! The data of 3,635 people over the age of 50 had almost a 20% lower risk of death in the 12 years of follow-up data.

YES! YES! “The benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them,” the researchers wrote!

Growing up, I believed there were two types of families: 1) Those who needed a dictionary to get through dinner. 2) Those who didn’t.

We were No. 1. Most every night, we’d end up consulting the dictionary which we kept right by the table. “If you have a question,” my folks would say, “then find the answer.” And if we thought Dad was pulling our leg on the meaning of a word he used, we’d look it up!

I know that as a past high school English teacher and as a past bookstore owner, I may come off as prejudiced. But health experts have long indicated that reading can help keep us healthy. For example, reading can help keep our brain from declining as we age, reduce stress, inspire others to read, make us better-informed, improve our concentration, expand our vocabulary…ad infinitium…

So…Read on!

I read a stat recently that said 42% of college graduates will never read another book after college. I think it was suppposed to depress me about books or technology or something, but it didn’t really. It can actually be inspiring. If you want to be awesome, it’s not that difficult. Read a book. If you want to be more successful at work, have a more meaningful relationship with others, it’s not that complicated. Read a book.

When the world zigs, we can zag.

We can read another book!

So…do YOU agree?

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