Today is National World Book Day. As the world advances, it seems society has lost touch with the fundamentals of reading books. Reading can be soothing, stress-relieving, and a way to get lost in another world. From romance to sci-fi to mystery, there is a book out there for everyone to enjoy. Studies have shown that reading can improve various parts of the mind and body. The University of Sussex did a study in 2009 that showed participants that read had reduced signs of stress. When you read, you have the ability to shut out external factors, and your focus is concentrated. Junior Paige Celetti wrote a book for her personal project last year and said, “Reading helps me destress because I am not worried about what is going wrong in my life, and instead I get to experience something amazing.” Reading has also shown to decrease the risk of mental decline in the elderly for diseases like Alzheimer’s and can help children whose brains are still growing physically and cognitively. Reading requires a lot of memorizing plots and characters, and your brain has to work to remember these concepts. Your short-term memory can be improved greatly. An easy way to think about this is to think of reading as an exercise for the brain. Just like other parts of the body that you work out or stretch, your brain needs to be in shape too. When trained enough, the brain can get stronger and improve daily functions.

  Successful entrepreneurs and famous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates are quite fond of reading. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was known to read one to three books a day and could read in other languages like German, Latin, French, and Italian. Elon Musk, the creator of Tesla, reported that at age nine he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. Reading has helped inspire the lives of many influential figures and encouraged many to achieve the accomplishments we hear about today. Books can help us discover parts of the world we never would think to learn about. Not only can reading build curiosity, but it can build a vocabulary that can help with various tests for school, the SAT, the ACT, and life in general. Reading can encompass a wide range of benefits that can strengthen your health and intellect.

  Even if books are not your thing, you can always pick up a magazine, a comic book, or even a cookbook, and there are always the Cat Talk’s quarterly newspapers that might be better options to suit your fancy. You could read on the bus to school, on a long road trip, on the plane for spring break, or right before bed to help you fall asleep faster. Get cozy, find a blanket, put on some peaceful music, or noise-cancelling headphones, and dive right in. Find the avenue that will encourage you to read more and exercise your brain.