It can be difficult to know where to begin when asked what the benefits of reading are – there are just too many to mention. For starters, you get to learn a lot of new things, especially if the book is informational in nature. It’s also easy to get lost in a book and not notice time passing by, more so if you enjoy what you are reading. There are more benefits of reading, though, some of which can be useful skills for other things necessary in life.
Readers generally have better (and a wider) vocabulary. It cannot be helped to encounter an unfamiliar word every now and then when reading a book. Some people will instantly jump in to consult a dictionary (or Google) to find out its meaning. Others, still, will keep on reading and will try to work out what the word means solely based on contextual clues. This also consequently improves a person’s analytical thinking – a skill that is very important in many aspects of life.
As an unwritten rule, writers who are readers are better at their craft than writers who do not read much. The ability to be exposed to different influences of literature allows the varying tones, color, voice, and styles sort of dissipate into the person’s own writing style, as if subconsciously. The greater the experience and encounters that a writer has, the more diverse and flavorful his/her writing becomes, and vocabulary is only one facet of this.
Knowledge and wisdom are two gifts that cannot be inherited or bought from any fancy store. Going through life is one way to acquire these. Another is through reading. The things that people read about, now or even from years ago, are things that can be applied in day to day life decisions. Glen Stansberry talks more about how reading can improve a person’s view of the world, and life in general. Read more on this from his post on 8 Major Benefits of Reading.