Side Effects of Reading

Did you know that elderly people who read are 2 ½ times less likely to develop Alzheimer's, which affects nearly 4 million people in the United States? What about the study conducted by California State University which concluded that the majority of a child's vocabulary development occurs as the result of reading, not direct teaching? If you're interested in learning more about the glorious "side effects" of reading, please check out this BuzzFeed article: http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/12-scientific-ways-reading-can-actually-improve-your-life#.qwx18beVz .

So, my 20-time isn't just about reading books, it's about preventive medicine and mental expansion! That's what I would like to think, but let's be honest with each other, no one actually reads in order to prevent Alzheimer's disease. And as a kid, I certainly didn't read the Magic Tree House series so I could beat my parents at Scrabble (I still can't do that). The REAL reason why I read, and why I chose to pursue this as my 20-time topic, is because I truly enjoy reading. As a kid, I spent countless hours reading. It was my go-to past-time. I read before I went to school, I read during school, and I read when I came home from school . I don't really know when this book-heavy schedule of mine ended, somewhere in middle school I think. The reason? Mainly school, but if I'm going to be honest with myself, technology has had a large impact on what I do with my time. There's a lot of news feed scrolling and app updating in my free time, and a lot less page flipping. 

So, more than anything, I've learned to love reading again, which sounds really cheesy and I'm annoyed that I couldn't come up with a more original conclusion, but it's true. I really did miss reading. Here is a quick list that I compiled of things that you can only experience through reading:

1. Creating your own world. 

Reading isn't just about reading words on a page, it's about taking those words and turning them into a story. Movies and television shows don't leave much for the imagination, whereas books require the reader to take what the author wrote and form a mental picture of what is happening. 

2. Standing in a library or bookstore and just looking. 

There's nothing quite as enjoyable as walking in to Barnes and Noble with a $25 gift certificate and time to kill. There's always the best-sellers list, the newly released section, and, my personal favorite, the bargain deals. A whole table of hardcover books starting at the low price of $6. On the occasions where you don't have a $25 gift certificate (or any gift certificate for that matter), the library is always a great choice. It's like the Netflix of book vendors! Nothing but a huge variety of totally free books, and who doesn't love free things?

3. Turning the last page and finishing a book.

I don't care what people say, E-books are a scam, but not in the monetary sense. I tried using a Kindle once, but pressing a button on a machine just isn't as satisfying as turning the page. It's extremely rewarding to hold a book in your hands and turn the last page as you contemplate the ending of the story.

OK, I thought I could come up with a lot more items for the list, but it's really hard to come up with anything when you're on the spot. Even so, I feel like these reasons really emphasize the importance of reading...the true side effects of a great book.