Ok, just picture this. It might be a familiar picture to you or it might be something that you have never experienced before. You will probably be able to tell immediately.
A young 7 year old girl sitting in the back seat of the car. Head hunched down pouring over the book she is reading. Most likely ignoring everyone else in the car and not even knowing what else is going on around her because she is doing something that she loves. Reading anything she can get her hands on.
It doesn’t matter that she is about to go see the Queen of England in person. It doesn’t matter that she is about to do something that will be something that very few people can say they have ever done. The pages she is devouring are the most important part of this adventure.
That was me when I was 7 years old. After a bit of a delay I had just recently taken the plunge into reading chapter books. That was the beginning of a lifetime of finding joy in tackling pages from the front to the back. (Reading the ending first is never ok 😬😳).
Yes I remember going to see the Queen but at that age I didn’t have perspective on what it meant as much as I do today. Although it was really cool.
As a kid I learned to read early and devoured all I could get my hands on. Very willing to empty my parent’s wallet to accomplish that. My love of reading started early, and just grew and grew. Over time there have been periods when I haven’t read too many books, life seems to get in the way, but it is still a deep passion of mine. I really prefer fiction novels. There is just something about escaping into another place and time that someone else has created for me that is appealing to me.
Here is more info about Queen Elizabeth’s visits to Canada.
I wish I was great about reading non-fiction, educational books. I just can’t find the same passion for those, but I agree that reading educational books is just as important. Feels too much like school. 😳
I’m not one of those people who will read books on a tablet. It’s just a totally different experience. And as I am learning more and more about the health benefits of reading and especially of reading real books, that you hold in your hands and turn real pages in, I stand even firmer in my passion for physical books.
If you don’t like reading or don’t read anymore, I encourage you to get back at it or to try it.
There is just something about reading and reading real books that is healthy, and in my humble opinion enjoyable. For me the best part of any road trip as a kid was the fact that I could devour my stack of books and ignore my siblings as we sat in close quarters in the back seat of the car driving wherever.
Here is some info below, hopefully in an easy format to read. There are some incredible physical and mental health benefits so it’s worth incorporating this into your life. Even if you feel you don’t have much time, reading for 10-15 minutes can make a difference.
Benefits of Reading a Physical Book (vs digital / screens)
- Reduced eye strain — no glare, no blue light emitted, less frequency of blinking issues.
- Better comprehension, retention, and memory — print books help people remember plot details, structure, location of text, etc.
- Fewer distractions — physical books don’t have pop-ups, notifications, hyperlinks, etc., so more focus.
- Better for sleep, especially if reading before bed — because screens’ blue light can suppress melatonin and delay sleep; physical books avoid that issue.
- Stronger sensory & tactile engagement — holding the book, turning pages, smell, weight, etc., which can make reading feel more “real” or immersive.
- Enhanced emotional connection and empathy — reading printed fiction tends to help readers engage more deeply with characters’ emotions and perspectives.
- Deeper attention span and ability to focus for longer periods.
- Better spatial orientation in the material — e.g. knowing roughly where on the page something was, which helps with recall.
Top 5 Health / Well-Being Benefits from Reading
These are health-related (mental + physical) benefits of reading regularly (especially physical books, but many carry over to other reading too).
- Stress reduction — reading can calm the mind; even a short reading session can reduce stress levels significantly.
- Improved sleep quality — reading a book before bed (instead of screen time) helps prepare your brain and body for rest.
- Slower cognitive decline / reduced risk of dementia / Alzheimer’s — regular mental stimulation via reading is associated with maintaining brain function with age.
- Longer lifespan — some studies suggest that people who read books live longer, possibly due to lowered stress, better mental health, social benefits, etc.
- Better mental health / empathy / emotional intelligence — reading helps with mood, understanding other people, reducing feelings of isolation, etc.
When & How Is It Best to Read
Here are suggestions for timing & methods to get the maximum benefit from reading physical books:
- When
• Before bed / evening: after screens, as part of winding-down ritual. Helps improve sleep.
• Quiet periods: when you can be relatively undisturbed, so you can focus (e.g. early morning, during travel, on weekends).
• Regularly: try for daily reading, even if only short sessions, to build habit.
• When in good lighting: natural daylight, or soft but sufficient lamp light (so you don’t strain eyes). - How
• Choose physical books (paper) over digital when possible, especially for deep reading or learning.
• Remove / reduce distractions: turn off notifications, choose a comfortable and quiet spot.
• Read with a pen / highlighter / pencil: annotate, mark what resonates, reflect. Helps retention.
• Take breaks for eyes: especially if reading long sessions; look away periodically, stretch, rest eyes.
• Mix genres: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc., to keep interest, stimulate different parts of thinking.
Basic / Key Statistics
- In Canada, adult readers spend about 6 hours/week on average reading books.
- In the 2024 Canadian Leisure & Reading Study:
• 45% of readers read or listened to 1-5 books in 2024.
• 29% read/listened to 6-11 books.
• 19% read/listened to 12-49 books.
• Only about 7% read/listened to 50 or more books in the year. - In Canada, 49% of people read or listen to books weekly, and 31% do so daily.
- Preference for formats in Canada (2023): 59% prefer print (physical books), 20% ebooks, 13% audiobooks.
- In the U.S., a Gallup poll found the average number of books read per adult per year dropped to about 12.6 (in 2021), down from about 15.6 in 2016.
- About 25% of adults read no books at all in a given year; about 42% read 1-5 books/year.
So friend, are you going to join me on this reading adventure. It’s one I don’t think you will regret! Happy book hunting!
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Melodee Glassford 