The Perks of Being a Bookworm: The Science of the Benefits of Reading

Online education, smartphones, and generative AI have dramatically changed what and how we read. Amid this backdrop of changing media and habits, this book addresses the question: What do we know about the cognitive benefits of reading? And how might this change in a digital age? Presenting a synthesis of research spanning psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and education, it offers a clear and accessible account of how reading transforms the human mind and brain. It demonstrates the profound cognitive enhancements on memory, attention, language processing, reasoning, and intellectual growth resulting from reading, beyond knowledge acquisition. This is an essential guide for students, educators, and researchers alike interested in the science of reading.