In ages past, people swore by the mind-nourishing power of books.
They read the classics of literature, science, philosophy, and every other genre and discipline. Some said things like, “books gave wings to my ideas,” or they “opened me up to a new world,” or simply that “reading is my life.”
In 2020, we have the scientific proof to support these claims. Reading is very, very good for your brain. …But (deep down) we knew that already, right?
Here are the studies. Let us know what books they inspire you to read first!
FACT TANK
WHO DOESN’T READ BOOKS IN AMERICA?
BY ANDREW PERRIN
Roughly a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Jan. 8 to Feb. 7. Who are these non-book readers?
FACT TANK
10 facts about Americans and public libraries
BY PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Technology and the internet are changing Americans’ reading habits and also their relationship with libraries. Half of Americans now own a tablet or e-reader and libraries have responded by expanding their digital offerings.
JHBE
Black Student College Graduation Rates Remain Low
BY ANDREW PERRIN
Nationwide, the black student graduation rate remains at a dismally low 42 percent. But the rate has improved by three percentage points over the past two years. More encouraging is the fact that over the past seven years the black student graduation rate has improved at almost all of the nation’s highest-ranked universities.
WIKIPEDIA
Higher education in China
BY WIKI
Higher education in China centers on a system of 2,000 universities and colleges, with more than six million students.[1] The system includes Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees, as well as non-degree programs, and is also open to foreign students.
FACT TANK
In a digital age, parents value printed books for their kids
BY KATHRYN ZICKUHR
Parents who have minor children at home are a relatively tech-savvy group. They are more likely than other adults to have computers, internet access, smartphones, and tablet computers. (This relatively high tech use may be due to the fact that parents with minor children living at home tend to also be younger than other adults.) They are also more likely than adults without children to read e-books.
WORLD ATLAS
List of Countries by Literacy Rate
BY JAMES BURTON
Roughly a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Jan. 8 to Feb. 7. Who are these non-book readers?