Reading is good for you. That’s not just an opinion—it’s the consensus of a growing number of researchers who see reading as not only vital to our ability to learn new things, but also important for our overall state of mind. 

There’s something to be said about the feel of paper—the physical, tactile experience of holding a book and turning its pages has real advantages over pixels on a glowing screen. And it turns out the data backs up what most of us already sense. A major study tracking more than 236,000 Americans over two decades found that reading for pleasure has declined by nearly 40% since 2003—a trend researchers at University College London called “deeply concerning.” Co-author Daisy Fancourt put it plainly: “The research is clear. Reading is a vital health-enhancing behavior for every group within society, with benefits across the life-course.” 

The irony is that most people already know they should be reading more. Studies consistently show that the gap between how much people read and how much they wish they did is wide—and that the vast majority of adults view reading as a meaningful investment in their own well-being.

Reading Is an Investment in Well-Being  – Love Paper