Portable Magic

By Vicki Browne
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”  – Stephen King.
For readers books are definitely paths to new perspectives, alternate realities and historical events. They introduce us to big ideas and unique characters. They capture the past and envision the future.
Sad to say, according to a 2021 Gallup Survey, there has been a decline in reading even among the three groups that have historically been avid readers –college graduates, women and older Americans. Women read 15.7 books per year, while men read 9.5 books. Overall, American adults read 12.6 books each year.
Despite this downward trend, studies still show that reading is beneficial for a variety of reasons. David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano’s research for the journal Science indicates that reading literary fiction correlates with increased empathy and decreased stress. Robert S. Wilson, et. al., in the journal Neurology, showed that cognitive activities like reading are associated with slower later-life cognitive decline. In other words, people who read tend to be more understanding, less stressed and mentally sharper into old age.
Dr. Robert Friedland, research neurologist, says, “Just as physical activity strengthens the heart, muscles and bones, intellectual activity strengthens the brain against disease.” Reading is one of the ways adults continue to “learn new things and challenge our ways of thinking.”
The 17% of Americans who do not read are missing out on important impacts of reading. 
-Improved writing, vocabulary and spelling
-Better understanding of instructions and development of new skills
-Sense of accomplishment
-Enhanced creativity and imagination.
Choosing an actual book over a screen-based activity in the evening, allows your brain to slow down, making falling asleep easier.
If you have not read a book in a while, start with one that pertains to a topic that is important to you, fills a need or tells a good story. Commit to reading for 30 minutes per day. Or start with audiobooks.
Erika Sauter, Program Coordinator at West Iron District Library, recommends the Libby app. You can download Libby onto any device, connect it to your library card, and have access to thousands of free audiobooks and magazines.
Tap into the ‘portable magic’ of reading. Boost your brain power and expand your horizons.