Rediscovering the Joy of Reading in a Digital Age

It’s 2024 and May is Get Caught Reading Month. Sadly, the art of reading seems to be fading into obscurity. With the rise of social media, streaming services, and video games, we find ourselves spending less and less time engaged in the simple pleasure of reading (or listening to) a book. However, the benefits of reading, regardless of the format, remain as potent and essential as ever, and we can change our habits to reap reading’s benefits.

The Decline of Reading

Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a noticeable decline in reading habits across the globe. Surveys and studies consistently reveal that people, especially younger generations, are reading less than their parents and grandparents. Factors contributing to this decline are numerous: the ubiquity of smartphones and other electronic devices, the allure of social media, and the increasing emphasis on visual and interactive forms of entertainment.

According to a 2023 survey from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA):

• 53 percent of US adults read books of any kind in 2022, compared to 57.1 percent in 2017.
• The percentage of adults who read at least one book (print or electronic) in 2022 was 48.5, 6.1 percent lower than in 2012.
• Fewer US adults read literature (novels, short stories, poetry, plays) in 2022 (37.6 percent) than in 2017 (45.2 percent). That’s a decline of 17 percent, the lowest share on record with this survey.

Rediscovering the Joy of Reading

Don’t despair, as hope is not lost! While technology has contributed to the decline in reading, it may also help reinvigorate the hobby. We are witnessing a bit of a reading renaissance on #Bookstagram (Instagram), #BookTok (TikTok), and YouTube. People of all ages are rediscovering the joy and benefits of reading, whether through audiobooks, printed books, or ebooks. In fact, each format offers unique advantages that cater to different preferences and lifestyles. Debates rage about whether listening to a book “counts as reading.” For the record, a 2016 study headed by Professor Beth A. Rogowsky from Bloomsburg University found no significant differences in comprehension and retention based on the mode of reading used: “We conclude that, for the average, college-educated, native language English reader, comparable comprehension and retention of text occur regardless of the modality of presentation. Additional analysis showed that both males and females in each condition recalled an equal amount of information, regardless of whether they listened to an audiobook, read from an electronic tablet, or both listened and read simultaneously (dual modality).” 

The Pleasures of Printed Books

Printed books, with their tactile feel and distinct aroma of ink and paper, hold a special place in the hearts of many readers. There’s something inherently satisfying about flipping through the pages of a physical book, marking passages with little sticky tags, and displaying cherished volumes on a bookshelf. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, printed books offer a break from screens and digital distractions, providing a more immersive and focused reading experience.

The Convenience of Ebooks

Ebooks, with their portability and accessibility, have revolutionized the way we read in the digital age. With a vast selection of titles available at the touch of a button, ebooks offer unparalleled convenience for readers who prefer to carry their entire library in the palm of their hand. Furthermore, features such as adjustable font sizes, built-in dictionaries, and integrated notetaking make ebooks particularly appealing to students and avid readers who value functionality and versatility.

The Benefits of Audiobooks

Audiobooks have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, offering readers a convenient way to consume books while on the go. Whether commuting to work, exercising at the gym, or doing household chores, audiobooks provide a hands-free, immersive experience that allows listeners to engage with the content without having to dedicate their full attention to reading. Additionally, audiobooks are accessible to people with visual impairments or learning disabilities, opening the world of literature to a broader audience.

The Universal Benefits of Reading

Regardless of the format, the act of reading offers a multitude of benefits extending beyond entertainment. Reading stimulates the mind, improves cognitive function, and enhances critical thinking skills. It exposes readers to diverse perspectives, cultures, and ideas, fostering empathy and understanding. Moreover, studies have shown that regular reading can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and even increase lifespan. 

Reading is Good for Your Career

A report from the NEA found a link between higher rates of voluntary reading and advanced reading skills. Why is this good for careers? Well, the research also reported that proficient readers are 2.5 times more likely than those with basic reading skills to earn $850 or more a week (equal to $1,120.10 in 2024).

Reading Makes You More Empathetic

The New School for Social Research (New York) published a study revealing that reading literary fiction elevated levels of empathy, a key factor in our development as compassionate humans. Rebecca Gross of the NEA says, “As we read about the behaviors and thoughts of characters, we come to understand and appreciate their experiences and inner lives, even if they are markedly different from our own.”

Reading Helps Protect Against Dementia

Research shows that lifelong engagement in intellectually stimulating activities like reading can slow decline in memory loss and cognitive ability as we age. A study from Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, found that reading helped delay the onset of dementia by up to five years. The report also found that that people who start participating in reading and other mind-engaging activities in their 70s and 80s also reap the benefits: “Exercising the mind can be done at any age to help keep your brain healthy. There’s no limit to when you can begin. We found that even those in their 80s can benefit from this type of mind exercise,” says the study’s author, Robert S. Wilson, PhD.

Reading Reduces Stress

A 2022 poll conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that:

• 27 percent of participants said they are so stressed most days that they can’t function. (Stressors include inflation, violence and crime, politics, and racial climate.)
• 76 percent of respondents said the future of the US is a source of stress.
• Women ages 18-34 reported more stress than men or older women.
• 76 percent of participants reported that stress affected their physical health.

According to a 2009 Mindlab International study at the University of Sussex, the benefits of reading a book are similar to taking a beach vacation — at little or no cost. (Aren’t libraries wonderful?) Reading reduces stress levels by 68 percent and is a more effective relaxation technique than taking a walk, drinking tea, or playing video games. Novels can help bring order to a cluttered mind, thanks to structured narratives. Novelist Jessie Burton says, “Getting yourself involved in quite a gnarly plot that you can try and solve is a displacement activity from your own mind’s whirrings.”

Reading Promotes Wellness

A 2016 study from Social Science and Medicine Journal found that reading at least 30 minutes a day may have extended participants’ lifespans by an average of two years. Those who read more than three hours a week had an advantage over those who read magazines and newspapers. Booktrust, the UK’s largest reading charity, conducted a survey of 1500 adults and found those reading books regularly tended to be more satisfied with life, generally happier, and more likely to feel what they did in life was worthwhile. 

Reading Improves Your Sleep

Reading before bed can help you sleep better, especially if it is part of your before-bed ritual. It helps decrease stress, anxiety, and muscle tension, allowing you to relax and unwind by pushing aside anxious thoughts. One study found that up to 22 percent of participants improved their sleep by reading before bed. As part of a consistent evening routine, it helps the mind associate bed and reading with sleep. If used in this way, however, make sure to use a printed book or an e-reader that is not backlit. The blue light of smart phones and tablets can disrupt the production of melatonin, creating difficulties in falling asleep.

Reading Helps You Feel Less Isolated

Reading gives us the opportunity to identify with others in circumstances like our own, helping us feel less alone. This is particularly good for young people. Today’s young adult (YA) novels tend to be less about escapism and more about helping teens address the issues they are dealing with every day – bullying, drug exposure, LGBTQ+ issues, and social exclusion, to name a few. Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud says YA authors may be the most helpful at getting kids to talk about “the issues which might be happening in their lives, but they haven’t been able to articulate. I really think that a book can be the axe that breaks the frozen sea within us, as Kafka said, and that is true at any age.” Such novels do not even need to be happy. Part of the appeal of dystopian fiction is the unexpected solace they can deliver when reading about people who were tested and overcame those obstacles. When novelist Alex Wheatle’s father told him about his childhood in Jamaica, he said a “storyteller would go from village to village, especially at harvest time, and they would interpret stories of slavery and so on. This stuff is very gloomy, but it also affirms the struggle people have been through.”

Cultivating a Reading Habit

It’s so easy to get lost in “doomscrolling” on social media or binging the latest series on Netflix that it may seem difficult to start a reading habit. Yes, cultivating this habit requires intentionality and discipline, so start slowly. Here are some tips:

1. Find a Format that Works for You