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Eight Benefits of Reading a Book...and Book Giveaway!

Welcome to guest author Zhuang Ping, who will share the benefits of reading books.

Want to reap those benefits instantly? Enter author Justine Dell's loaded Kindle Fire giveaway.

Take it away, Zhuang:

Eight Benefits of Reading a Book


Being able to read is one of the most wonderful feelings. In the 21st century, the ability to read is not only a privilege but a right. Literacy and intelligence go hand in hand.

There are countless benefits of reading; here are my top eight:

1. Improved Knowledge


The more you read,the more knowledge you gain. Want to know what life was like for a young Geisha in WWII Japan? Read the fantastic book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

2. Improved writing and speaking skills


Do you know that the more you read, the better you write? And that big readers express themselves better? Therefore, it's wise to encourage your child to read from an early age. Children who start to read earlier become more proficient at writing and speaking. 


3. Mental stimulation

Reading is exercise for your brain! Reading forces you to focus while challenging your brain to process information. Several parts of the brain activate when we read, stimulating brain cells and forming new neuronal connections.

Photo courtesy of Sheknows.com 

4. Improved Memory


Both your short term and long term memory improve with reading. Your brain processes the information you read and stores it for reference when you turn the page. You will remember people, places, scenes and events, forming a visual of what you're reading. You later access this stored information. 

5. Improved Analytical skills


Do you ever wonder "What the heck just happened?" when reading? In addition to all the above benefits, reading forces you to analyze and comprehend material. People who read become adept at drumming up ideas, sifting through chaos, and solving problems. 

6. Improved focus


Most of us can't focus for long. SQUIRREL! We may fail to complete a task because we get bored or restless. Reading helps both adult and children to focus for more than just a few minutes. The more we read, the more our ability to focus improves. We may become so disciplined that we can focus for hours at a time. 

7. Relaxation


Have you heard of blue light? It's what TV emits. It also suppresses melatonin, a hormone our body produces to help us fall asleep. For this reason, experts recommend avoiding TV before bedtime. What should you do instead? READ. Many people can't fall asleep without a book. Reading can relax you, from Mom or Dad reading bedtime stories when you were young, to devouring your favorite book before bed as an adult. 

Reading can also provide stress relief. When you read, the brain repairs itself from the day's stresses. 


8. Entertainment


No one can argue that in addition to knowledge and all the other benefits, a good book brings us entertainment. We may read to study or catch up on current affairs, but most of all we read for entertainment, evidenced by the fact that fiction sells more than non-fiction. A good novel makes us laugh and/or cry with the characters.


My favorite places to buy books are Amazon.com, Bookbyte or Bookbaby. There are many more reputable stores to choose from which offer great deals on purchases and shipping. To find the best stores and deals, go to promocode4share.com.


Thank you, Zhuang! Because of all these benefits of reading, I feel sad for friends who don't read much.

But for those of you who LOVE reading like I do, my pub sister Justine Dell is giving away a Kindle Fire loaded with books! I've read her debut novel, Recaptured Dreams (review HERE) and can't wait to check out her additional books: All-American Girl and soon-to-be-released Until Next Time.

To enter the Kindle Fire giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter form:

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Comments

I didn't know that about melatonin. Guess I need to stop watching television at night.
Jennifer Lane said…
Thanks for stopping by, Alex. Before-bed TV watching shouldn't be a problem unless you experience insomnia. :-)
Nicki Elson said…
Excellent tie in with the giveaway! Thanks for this guest post from Zhuang - and here I always say I'm going shut my brain off when I sit down to read a good book. I'm going to show this article to my son - the more I encourage him to read the more he resists. Maybe if he hears it from someone else...
DarcĂ­a Helle said…
Great post, Jen! Now I have confirmation that sitting on my couch with a book is good for me.

Thanks for the fantastic giveaway. As for why I love romance books, the answer is because it's a fun way of being voyeuristic and watching what goes on behind closed doors. :)
magic5905 said…
The happy endings. You don't usually get that in real life.
Thanks.
Jennifer Lane said…
Nicki, do you think your son will read a post about the benefits of reading? ;-)
Jennifer Lane said…
Darcia, I like that too! People are freaking fascinating, which is why I like contemporary more than paranormal.
Jennifer Lane said…
Magi, excellent point. Hooray for happy endings! I'm a big fan.
Unknown said…
Love the firsts and the happy endings! Great chemistry is important too! Thanks!