On average, book readers were found to live for almost two years longer than non-readers. “We found that reading books provided a greater benefit than reading newspapers or magazines. “When readers were compared to non-readers at 80% mortality (the time it takes 20% of a group to die), non-book readers lived 85 months (7.08 years), whereas book readers lived 108 months (9.00 years) after baseline,” write the researchers. The paper also specifically links the reading of books, rather than periodicals, to a longer life. “Cognitive engagement may explain why vocabulary, reasoning, concentration, and critical thinking skills are improved by exposure to books,” they write.

Source: The Guardian August 08, 2016 14:03 UTC