Reading is an activity that enriches our lives. As well as providing access to huge amounts of information and knowledge, we read for entertainment. Good stories provide an escape where your imagination can lift you away.
When we read, not only are we improving our working memory, but research has shown that it makes us feel better and more positive too.
Science has shown that reading has some amazing health benefits, including helping with depression, cutting stress, and reducing the chances of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.
While countries such as India, Thailand, and China spend the most hours reading per week, they are not the most “literate” countries in terms of having access to a generous number of libraries, newspapers, and computers. In that regard, Finland, Norway, and Iceland are world beaters.
Reading habits: a summary
Reading can give us a lifetime of pleasure. There are so many fascinating books out there, that we can safely say that there will never be a shortage of things to read.
What would the world be like without books? Those of us who read shudder at the thought. But people who are illiterate essentially live in a world where books have no meaning for them. Not only do illiterate people miss out on cultural perks such as best sellers and the classics, but their socioeconomic status and health are also affected.
There is a positive correlation between a country’s literacy rate and its standard of living because wealthier countries can afford to provide its citizens with education, health care, and technology.
Literacy rate is defined as the percentage of people over the age of 15 that can read and write. The ability to read and write is affected by access to education, libraries, and computers. Countries that have been found to read the most are India, Thailand, and China.