Why read?

Hopefully during these summer months you will be able to find some time for pleasure reading, whether it be fiction or non-fiction.  Both students and professors are incredibly busy during the semester. Anyone who has a job and/or is taking care of a family is incredibly busy.  Sustained or prolonged reading is often one of the first activities to be dropped from your schedule.  But reading is important for more than just pleasure and escape.  So why read?

• It gives your mind a rest from the day-to-day cares and worries.   This is a good stress reliever.
• Prolonged reading helps your brain retain or develop the ability to concentrate for an extended period of time.  The lack of prolonged attention is one concern people mention with all of the electronic devices that have us jumping from topic to topic with just a few second attention to each.
• Reading helps you develop empathy.  You are more able to understand the viewpoint of others and not just our own.
• You increase your vocabulary.
• You increase your general background knowledge about multiple topics.
• You practice seeing the "big picture" as you keep the story line and multiple characters straight in your mind.
• In general, reading keeps you brain active so that you are ready to go when the new semester starts.

All of these skills transfer to your academic work.  So grab a book, find a shady spot and enjoy!
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation  for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.