Can books change your life?

“The person who does not read has no advantage over the person who cannot read.”

Reading, in my opinion is one of the most important yet unappreciated skills we learn during our early childhood, even before going to school.

When I was a child, growing up in the seventies, long before the days of iPads and smartphones, I developed a passion towards reading any book I got my hand on.

These were from fairytales to comics to poster books about dinosaurs (yes, I remember most to their names and species) to self-help books, which made me wonder, can reading books change my life?

And if so, then how?

Reading is shown to have many benefits for the human brain, as it keeps our minds stimulated while also improving our cognitive abilities.

Studies show that such activities that engage our minds can reduce memory decline by up to 32 per cent compared to other activities that require less focus.

The more we read, the easier it becomes for us to retain and recall information. From a more technical standpoint, reading stimulates neurogenesis - the creation of more neurons within the brain.

These neurons are used to send and receive information between different parts of the brain. This is not exclusive to memory, as other cognitive functions are also improved by reading.

Almost any sort of significant mental stimulation can reduce the risk of cognitive decline including Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Reading also allows us to explore different perspectives on various issues, as it provides us with a unique understanding of the author’s views on a certain topic with enough context to justify these views.

Figuratively speaking, it allows readers to walk a mile in the author’s shoes. Personally speaking, every book is an adventure into the mind of the author.

Thoughts and beliefs are shaped by one’s life experience and surroundings, and understanding these experiences can allow readers to properly grasp the notions that the author considers to be true.

Reading can also allow us to properly understand the reasoning behind certain actions, the relative subjectivity of opinions, and provides a deeper appreciation of the underlying ideals of epistemology – the theory of knowledge.

From an educational perspective, reading is by far one of the most crucial skills that one can adopt. Constant exposure to visual representations of the proper way authors string together words and sentences gives people a clearer understanding of the way word sequences are put together, which ultimately improves their linguistic skills.

Needless to say, authors are the best teachers of literacy. This is not exclusive to reading books, as it was shown that even young children who watch YouTube with captions often develop better linguistic skills than those who do not.

Studies also prove that reading can improve retention skills, as most books are lengthy and require a certain amount of focus to grasp the underlying meanings behind the text. The lack of visual aids also stimulates the brain differently, as it makes the reader create a mental image of what is going on in a certain plot.

In an age where we have shorts, reels and TikTok, our attention spans suffer greatly, as very short and stimulating videos are becoming the new norm.

Our dopamine receptors are shot, which is why many people feel bored easily – unconsciously triggering us to reach out for our phones.

On an ending note, I would like to explore this issue from a theological perspective. The holy Quran – the miracle of Islam - is a book, and the first revelation that our prophet (PBUH) received was the word ‘Read’, so how can we not?

I see an inexplicable profoundness behind this simple word, as it implores us to never stop seeking knowledge.