Reading can be an arduous task - you think about the long days and nights spent reading texts that may not be interesting or you could care less about.
But what if reading can be a real life tool that helps you become a more successful person?
There are many reasons to read, besides completing courseworks. And these reasons are more important than ever for not just successful college applicants - but successful people in life.
1) Reading pushes your critical thinking
In an increasingly digital world like this, there is no shortage of need for critical thinking. Whether it's a need to be able to problem solve, or think creatively, there is a growing demand for people who have the ability to adapt and make change in any situation.
You might ask : “So what does reading have to do with this?”
In a recent article from 2020, Forbes listed Critical and Analysis as one of the top skills needed for success in 2020 and beyond, and a 2020 World Economic Forum report also listed Critical Thinking as one of the top 10 most important skills for the future of jobs in 2025.
So what is critical thinking?
At the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform, scholars Michael Scriven and Richard Paul (1987) expanded on this work and defined critical thinking as the “process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”
Critical Thinking can therefore be categorized into 2 components:
a set of information and belief generating and processing skills
the habit, based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior.
Reading, therefore, helps develop such critical thinking skills as reading requires that the brain absorbs new information and then reflects upon it. The more you read, the more information and the more ways your brain is challenged to consider the new information, pushing new boundaries.
It’s the reason U.S. News & World Report suggested Book Clubs as one of the top 5 ways to develop critical thinking for success in college.
Be mindful, however, to not confuse casual reading with the kind of reading that enhances your critical thinking - critical reading. Reading critically requires a willingness to process the information absorbed and work through that. We will talk about this more in later articles.
2) Reading develops your knowledge
It’s a no-brainer that reading is a gateway to absorb new information. Reading all kinds of texts helps to teach you new skills, challenge you to consider new perspectives, and also develops your view of the world.
Knowledge, especially in a world like today, is an incredibly valuable asset. Having a broad view of the world and understanding why things are the way they are can help you to navigate your own life in a better informed way.
Much of college will be absorbing new information and reading through both scholarly and literary texts. Whether you’re studying engineering, art history or music, studying texts will require an affinity for learning. And developing a habit (and joy!) in learning will help you continue to grow in your career after college as well!
Many successful CEOs and leaders today have also shared how reading has helped shape them. And they make it a goal to continuously read - even at their level. Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Groups for example, recommends reading 500 pages every day.
Warren Edward Buffett, American investor, business tycoon, philanthropist, and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
He is considered one of the most successful investors in the world and has a net worth of over US$85.6 billion as of December 2020, making him the world's fourth-wealthiest person.
Need some recommendations?
You can find some of the most recommended non-fiction books from The Guardian here.
3) Reading makes you a better decision-maker
You do not only have to read non-fiction books in order to learn new things. In fact, Harvard Business Review has shown that reading literary fiction has the ability to help a person develop empathy and also become quicker cognitive decision makers. By reading more and diving deep into more stories, it can help you see better possibilities and come to quicker and more decisive thoughts on situations.
In a 2013 study by University of Toronto, researchers found that people who read short stories demonstrated a lower need for cognitive closure - they tend to be more creative, more thoughtful and more comfortable with competing hypotheses. Essentially, they have a higher EQ (emotional intelligence). The researchers pointed out that perspective-taking during literary reading can help us grow in EQ. Discussions of what is happening in the texts position us to think objectively - we don’t feel compelled to defend ourselves. We can have conversations that might not be possible in any other environment and likely not with the same level of honesty.
4) Reading helps you stay mentally sharp
Aside from how reading can practically help you succeed, it’s important to note the physical benefits of reading.
Researchers from the Journal of American Academy of Neurology have found that people who engage in mentally stimulating activities like reading have a slower memory decline than those who do not. Reading can therefore help your body stay mentally fit for the rest of your life!
There have also been researches that have shown, with MRI scans, that reading is tied to the networks of circuits and signals in our brain. The more we read, the more complex and developed these become. The brain scans reveal that the brain connectivity increases with more reading and the part of the brain that is activated is also tied with the part of the brain that responds to physical movements like pain and movement.
5) Reading reduces stress
Reading reduces stress? What?
We know - that might have been your initial reaction. It’s hard to imagine how all the late nights pouring over mandatory reading from school, or the perusing complex passages in old literary fiction can possibly be stress reducing.
But there have been researches that have proven that reading can initiate the same stress-reducing effect as other stress-reducing exercises. In fact, a 2009 study showed that just 30 minutes of reading lowered heart rate, blood pressure, and feelings of psychological distress just as effectively as yoga and humor did! Some doctors have even recommended reading as a tool for people who have trouble sleeping.
Find the joy in reading
There is real evidence that reading is beneficial to a person’s development in every way. It has been regarded as a key to success by researchers, employers and even top leaders in the world. While reading can still feel daunting, and learning can sometimes feel tiring, we recommend you to find your groove. Make reading work for you - start by reading what you may enjoy reading.
Consider trying to start a new habit in reading a little bit every day. Maybe you’re on the MTR, or just waiting for someone at a cafe. Or maybe you’re about to sleep and want to sleep well. Wherever and whatever works best for your schedule - just try it.
We hope you can find your joy in reading!
For more specific ways to develop critical reading, please check out our next article.