In this new technology-driven world, we are surrounded by fast information that requires minimal concentration. The popularity of books has decreased over the years as other forms of digital leisure entered into people’s life.
We often find ourselves scrolling down a social Media page with not much interest however a need to be connected to this world. The imaginary has taken a step back as we have let ourselves drown into this brimming notification’s network.
People have been seduced by these fast-paced ways to get information that comforts the mind however limits a too deep reassessment. With the rising popularity of digital media, another tendency appeared in the modern world; Life has become a busy multitasking environment, filled with a precipitated need to achieve everything in the briefest lapse of time.
The soothing feeling of reading literature brings the mind to a vivid state. Devoting time and attention to longer and deeper content exhibits profound neurological effects.
Reading anything that fills our mind and exposes you to new words appears to have lots of mental benefits. The mesmerizing world of words provides us with the ability to step outside ourselves, to be submerged in somebody else’s mind for a moment; increasing empathy and emotional intelligence.
Regular readers may see improvements in their capacity to retain and process information and, in the long term, prevent certain brain illnesses like Alzheimer. Studies show that reading books also helps reduces stress allowing your muscles to relax and slows down your breathing.
Books are indeed the best remedy against insomnia: Calming the body and distracting the mind from any worries. However, let’s not get fooled by its relaxing effects; Reading has been proven to be more neurologically challenging than speaking or processing images, being an excellent brain work-out.
We have been privileged with the existence of great writers throughout history, like Charlotte Brontë, Herman Hesse, Jane Austen, William Somerset Maugham; And yet we keep discovering new masterpieces brought by modern authors like Toni Morrisson, Yuval Noah Harari, Stephen King and J.K Rowling.
Books may reflect a generation and a culture, a moment in history, an important scientific discovery or may be a work-of-imagination designed by the creative mind. In addition to expend our creativity, the knowledge of words acquired by reading books is a prodigious tool to express ourselves lucidly in a world where communication is omnipresent.
Books have been empowering people with knowledge and ideas for centuries and have allowed children and adults around the globe to escape into the astounding and inestimable imaginary world. Even with all the benefits literature provided, reading is not always the favored occupation.
Omnipresent technology remarkably distracts people from devoting time to read a book. Smartphones are quite recent in society and therefore it explains the lack of research on their effect on the long term.
The few studies on the matter concluded with similar outcomes; cautioning extensive screen time, especially for children. So what about we put down our smartphones, close our laptops, shut off the television and rest our eyes from the numerous screens that surround us.
Let’s pick up that book sitting on the shelf waiting to be read. Let ‘s allow ourselves to disconnect from technology for a little while and reconnect to that wonderful way of feeding the mind with words, knowledge and imaginary.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss
Gabrielle Dumberry
