Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can also actually increase your brainpower. Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout.
If you need proof for the question 'does reading make you smarter', here's some paramount evidence: reading can increase your IQ by up to 50 points if you do it for 30 minutes a day. The effect is even greater if you read 5 books in a month—this could increase your IQ by 30 points.
Reading each day is a great way to improve your crystallized content knowledge, fluid intelligence, emotional intelligence, and your brain's neural connectivity. Simply put, reading often and broadly can change the way your brain functions and make you smarter every day!
The simple answer is: No. Reading 100 books in a year is an accomplishment. For most people, it will stretch their horizons and stretch their brain to its limit. But it won't make you smarter unless what you read actually starts to impact the way that you live.
Is reading speed an indicator of intelligence? When it comes to published studies, there is no recognized connection between speed reading and IQ or intelligence. If anything, the correlation is not strong enough for it to be considered factual.
However, numerous studies have defined that 15-30 minutes is a minimum interval we should dedicate to reading each day. Neuroscientists agree that even simple lifestyle changes, like daily 15 minutes with a nose in a book, will support your brain health for a lifetime.
Reading has a positive effect on our mental health, while watching TV has the exact opposite effect. Reading can reduce stress, lower our blood pressure, our heart rate and muscle tension. On top of the knowledge boost reading provides us with, it also has a healing effect on our mental state.
High school or college students who need to memorize or learn the material they're reading typically go through 100 to 200 words in a minute. Anything above 400 wpm is fast reading, while a reading time of 700 wpm falls under speed reading.
Reading Improves Brain Function
A person who reads everyday gets better at it over time. Not surprisingly, daily readers also gain more enjoyment from it than those that read less often. It can even improve memory and critical thinking skills.
They found that regular, engaged leisure reading can strengthen memory skills in older adults, laying the groundwork for better practices in preserving our mental abilities as we age.
Reading is good for you because it improves your focus, memory, empathy, and communication skills. It can reduce stress, improve your mental health, and help you live longer. Reading also allows you to learn new things to help you succeed in your work and relationships. The best part?
Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can also actually increase your brainpower. Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout.
Accessible on web browsers, tablets or even phones, ReadingIQ is a digital library with well over 7,000 digitally accessible books for kids ages 0-12.
Geniuses tend to be intellectually curious, so they tend to read more and more widely than the average person. With unfamiliar material and fiction, they may read a little faster than others.
If you're a slow reader, you may read at closer to 125 to 200 words per minute. This means reading 100,000 words will take you between 8.3 and 13.3 hours.
The leading causes of slow reading
Many people are slow readers because they can't seem to focus on what they're reading. This often happens if you're exposed to noise or other external factors while trying to read. Poor concentration is also related to daydreaming or worrying about problems.
The average reader will read 500,000 words in 27.8 hours when reading at a speed of 300 words per minute (wpm). Typical documents that are 500,000 words or more include full-length novels.
Reading consistently strengthens connections in the brain, improves memory and concentration, and may even help you live longer. Reading can also reduce stress levels and prevent age-related cognitive decline. To read more, set aside time every day to pick up a book, whether it's during your commute or before bed.
Books develop your imagination, are much more detailed than films, improve your English writing and are proven to help you get better jobs. Meanwhile films are socially better, quicker to watch and have more job opportunities.
Reading before bed can reduce stress
Similar to how physical exercise strengthens the body, cognitive exercises — like reading — are important to strengthen the mind. Strong cognitive function can help reduce mental chatter, which in turn, helps us drop into a quiet state of relaxation.
So, is listening to audiobooks considered reading? Yes. But perhaps the better question is: Are you a visual reader or an aural reader? Why not both?
The average reader can read between 200 and 300 words per minute (WPM). Reading too fast or too slowly can lead to poor comprehension and concentration. If you're a slow reader, there are various things you can do to improve your reading skills.