Yale University researchers have recently found out in a study that book readers live a longer life. The study was released on National Book Lovers Day, which states that for book readers, the mortality rates are 20 percent lower.
The study was published in the Social Science & Medicine journal. It looked into the reading pattern of 3635 subjects over the age of 50. The subjects were divided into three groups - one who do not read books, one who read books less than 3.5 hours a week and one who read books for more than 3.5 hours a week.
The research concluded, "Book readers experienced a 20 percent reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow-up compared to non-book readers." The research also found out that those who read books less than 3.5 hours have 17 percent less risk of death.
Meanwhile, 33 percent of the non-book readers died during the follow-up. The author thus concluded that book is just as helpful as a healthy diet and exercise, as it gives "significant survival advantage." However, all these are dependent on parameters, such as education level, health condition and much more.
While this may be good news for many book readers around the world, Americans lie in the risk zone. Very few Americans fall under the category of frequent book readers, thus, making them vulnerable to the risk.
India, China, Thailand have more people who are prone to read more books and thus are at a lower risk level. India is at the number one spot according to the World Culture Index while America is in 23rd position.
The good news is that book reading has increased considerably in the last few years in America and in other parts of the world. In 2015, 652 million print and electronic books were sold in America. Around 80 percent of the young adults read a book last year, while 68 percent was counted in the age group of 50 to 64, The Washington Post reported.
The study has also found that more time are invested in Periodicals than books. National Endowment for the Arts even found out in 2009 that 87 percent of the books being read are fiction, The Guardian has learned.
If you are not a good reader, check this video for better reading: