For the consummate reader this is an easy question to answer - the love of story, the chance to 'escape' into a narrative, to indulge in a favorite genre, to go beyond the words on the page etc. But, what about the scientific benefits? It is shown that reading makes you smarter, relaxes you, lessens stress, eases muscle tension, increases the brain's blood flow and improves connectivity. Through solving a 'case' in a mystery, or crime novel you are detecting patterns, problem solving and improving your analytical thinking, and it helps us practice concentration. Unlike the milliseconds of internet and social site constant scrolling.

Other benefits include an increase in your vocabulary - finding a 'new' word allows us to use it correctly and articulate it in conversation. The plot of a novel can start a conversation about that specific story, or the author, or genre. With narratives from an opposing world views we broaden our perspective on historical events, politics, customs, spiritualties, cultural knowledge, economics, factual knowledge, and different intellects.

It is also a way to increase our social connections and interactions through book clubs, book swaps, attending author readings, finding our people in a local bookstore, and participate in book fairs etc.

For me as a reader and writer, I am drawn to any book title with library, or bookstore in it - obvious I suppose, I think many author's dream of owning a bookstore. Although, I will also read novels that are in a similar genre to one I am writing (or planning to write). This is research to see how the story is crafted, what commonalities they have and that undefinable magic that draws a reader in. For example, I am reading a time travel novel currently as I had an idea for such a story while waiting at an airport. I scribbled in my trusty notebook for some time, only to find once I typed it up on my return home it was three and a quarter pages long!

When you read what benefits do you encounter?