With the use of technology continuously rising, the use of books and reading on paper material has lowered significantly. Studies have shown the negative effects that technology has on kids and teenagers. However, the effects of books on the mental state, eyes and brain have been positively effective. 

Reading can ultimately reduce the stress put upon an individual. Without having to go through the toxicity of social media, reading can be better for the average person. Reading has the same psychological effect on the mind and body as yoga does. It generally lowers heart rate, blood pressure and distress.

“I typically read romance, thrillers and fantasy books,” senior Madison Prentice said.

As of 2020, the most popular genre of books for teens was Romance. Romance novels can be categorized into different sub genres including contemporary, historical, romantic suspense, inspirational, speculative and young adult.

“I think reading is good for people because it allows them to escape from reality and be able to enter a world of imagination,” Prentice said.

In many cases, people enjoy reading because it gives them a sense of imagination and allows them to escape from the harsh factors of reality. Having that sense of imagination is a big part of why many people enjoy reading. It allows them to feel that they are traveling through the story or plot alongside the characters, imagining themselves in their shoes. 

 Many people say reading “stops time” and in many cases, that may be why some people enjoy reading in their free time. Reading is an activity that can be good for the mind and the soul. Whether a person reads 30 minutes a day or a few hours a day, it can ultimately boost their mood and mentality.

With reading, it has been shown to strengthen the brain and improve vocabulary significantly. Reading pieces of literature allows the brain to open up a new understanding of different elements of education and allows for it to grow. Reading even just a small portion a day can ultimately improve brain intelligence in the long run.

Reading before going to bed can improve sleep schedule as well. Looking at the brightness on a screen can make it hard to fall asleep. Parts of the brain sense the brightness and register it as time to stay awake, which makes it hard for the brain to calm down and actually get to sleep.

With that, reading with paper books rather than an eBook online can be beneficial to the effects it has with sleep schedules. Without the brightness of a screen, and reading something on paper instead, the brain can slowly start to become tired and adjust to getting to sleep.

Overall, with reading making a comeback in today’s society, it might just be a good thing for future generations. With improving mentality, focus and education, it essentially is better than staring at a screen for hours at a time.