Bahar Biçen Aras
Head of, Information Resources and Library Department
Reading books, in today’s rapidly changing information environment, stands out as more than just entertainment; it is the most valuable investment a person can make in their own mind. Research shows that the habit of regular reading not only increases knowledge, but also has profound neurobiological and psychological effects that improve every area of life, from stress management skills to socio-economic success.
Reading stimulates the brain’s functioning, thereby enhancing mental performance. First and foremost, reading acts as a remedy for the major problem of our time: difficulty concentrating. The necessity of following a story or a complex problem trains the mind to focus on a single subject. This process strengthens the concentration muscle by increasing dopamine release in the brain. Secondly, it forms the basis of linguistic competence. Reading continuously expands vocabulary and increases linguistic fluency by exposing the reader to complex sentence structures. Young people who grow up in a home environment with a reading habit have been found to understand 42% more words than their peers who do not read. This provides individuals with a significant advantage in both academic achievement and social relationships. It is also recommended that individuals keep a journal to use the new words they acquire through reading in their daily lives.
Finally, books constantly challenge readers to reason and think critically. The different perspectives gained through nonfiction works contribute significantly to cognitive growth by developing one’s problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
Stress Management
Research shows that reading books has proven, powerful effects on stress management and mental health, beyond being merely a cultural activity. Even just six minutes of quiet reading can reduce stress levels by 68% by distracting the mind from daily worries and lowering heart rate and muscle tension. This physiological relaxation provided by reading is supported by mental processes; fiction, in particular, sharpens “Theory of Mind” (the ability to understand other people’s desires, beliefs, and feelings) skills and develops empathy, while regular mental stimulation strengthens cognitive reserve, acting as a protective shield against risks such as Alzheimer’s. The act of reading, which stands out for its accessibility and affordability, also plays a role in our lives as a clinical support tool for coping with psychological problems such as anxiety and depression through the method of “bibliotherapy.”
Lifelong Success
Transforming the benefits of reading into lifelong success depends not only on what is read, but also on “how” it is read; at this point, the undeniable superiority of printed materials over digital reading comes to the fore. Current research consistently shows that reading printed books provides deeper learning and comprehension compared to digital reading. In particular, a large-scale 2024 study covering 49 different studies found that students who read on paper scored significantly higher on comprehension tests than those who followed the same material on a
screen. Researchers have termed this phenomenon, where individuals’ performance in retaining and comprehending information declines when reading from a screen, the “Screen Inferiority Effect.” The findings prove that despite the practicality of digital reading, printed materials still have an indispensable advantage in situations requiring lasting knowledge and deep focus. Contrary to the superficial scanning habit associated with digital media, printed texts have been shown to increase deep learning and comprehension capacity by six to eight times.
Reading habits are also strongly linked to an individual’s socio-economic well-being. Statistics show that 86% of people in the high-income group are regular readers, and that the rate of non-reading increases as the level of education decreases. All this data tells us that reading habits go beyond being a simple hobby. Reading is a valuable investment in human capital that opens up high-level career paths and should be treated as a strategic priority for both individual and societal development.
Wouldn’t you like to make this investment in your mind and embark on a journey through the shelves of our library to discover the depth of printed books?
