Reading Makes You a Better Person

I have seen many places in the world. I visited Italy, France, Mexico, South America, and the Middle East. I have not been to many of these places physically, but I have experienced them through reading. Reading is nourishing for our brains and our development. We understand the world and its different cultures when we are exposed to them. I think the world would be a better place if more people read; reading improves our intelligence, empathy, and our understanding of the world.

When we read, we become smarter. Reading expands our vocabulary and our knowledge of the world. It exposes one to new words that they can then use to express themselves and their ideas (Jackson 149). When we read books that challenge us, we learn new words and concepts. There have been many instances when I am reading a book and must look up a word to fully comprehend what the author is trying to say. Sometimes it is beneficial to look up a word you know but may not understand the way it is used in the book. This way, we learn new definitions of words. This benefits us because having a good vocabulary helps you build relations. You can speak well and communicate your thoughts in a clear and efficient way.

Books have been written over every subject imaginable. There is always an opportunity to learn a new thing or experience a new story. We get to learn about an unimaginable amount of research whenever we want to (Jackson 150). It is always possible to learn a new thing while reading, even if learning is not the intent. Reading is a great way to keep your mind engaged and challenged instead of in a zombie-like trance like when we watch tv or scroll through social media. Engaging our mind in subjects and situations that make us think strengthens our brains and allows us to formulate engaging ideas and thoughts.

Another reason people should read is because it expands our world and our understanding of others. People from all around the world write books that include their culture and conflicts from where they are from. This summer I read a book called S by Slavenka Drakulic. In this book, we follow S, who is from the Balkans, during the war in 1996 where many Bosnian women and children were displaced and tortured by the Serbs. Reading this opened my eyes to many problems of which I was unaware. Even though the story’s characters were fictional, many of the events were not. It was heartbreaking to learn of those atrocities, but it was important for me to learn about them and be aware of them.

Reading also helps us become more empathetic. Everybody wants to be understood. Being empathetic allows us to understand what others are going through and how they are feeling. Without practice this can be a difficult thing to follow through. When we read, we are exposed to all sorts of situations that give us a better understanding of the different ways people can act. Many characters in stories resemble real people, even if unintentionally. While it is important to gain intellectual knowledge, we also need to read books that will make our increase emotional knowledge. A fictional story has many important lessons that can be learned through the characters’ experiences. When people read, they notice those lessons and apply them to their own lives and the lives of others.

People might not find reading enjoyable because they must focus on it. Your mind is engaged when you read. To understand what was read, sometimes you must reread it, which to many, is not appealing. I do not think people have to read difficult books to benefit from reading. It is perfectly fine for a person to read a book simply for entertainment. The mind is still working to imagine the scenes and process the information.

Reading is essential to make us better people. Many qualities are improved when we read. We become more intelligent, empathic, and understanding of the world when we read. These qualities show that reading makes you a better person.

Words Cited

JACKSON, JOHN E. “REFLECTIONS ON READING.” Naval War College Review, vol. 68,
no. 2, 2015, pp. 149–51. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26397852. Accessed 28 Jan.
2025.

About the Author

Katie Mauer is a sophomore at Mount Marty University and is studying English and Secondary Education. She is a Seton Scholar and is a part of campus ministry.