Reading is good for you!
KeskusteluFolio Society Devotees
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1English-bookseller
Trying to justify your purchase of an extremely expensive new Folio Society book (when for the same sum of money you could buy a number of second hand Folio Society books...) then our 'mature' book-buyers might be interested in this defence of reading. I found this advice (and I am in no position to prove its truth or otherwise) on a health website called 'Healthline: Wellness Wire'.
"Reading is good for your brain, especially as you get older.
How so? Reading has been found to stimulate every part of your brain and enhance connectivity between the different regions. Some of these effects can last days after your last read! Some other benefits of reading include increased empathy, reduced stress, and expanded vocabulary.
Neat! But how does it help with aging? A 2008 study showed that people (ages 70–86) who read and solve math problems every day have fewer signs of cognitive decline. A 2013 study also found that people who did mentally stimulating activities, like reading, throughout their lives were less likely to develop plaques, lesions, and tau-protein tangles, all of which are commonly found in the brains of people with dementia.
Wow, so reading can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? No, not quite. There’s no known way to definitively prevent either of those conditions. However, the healthy aging benefits of reading are promising enough that the National Institute on Aging recommends reading as a way to stay mentally sharp as you age."
"Reading is good for your brain, especially as you get older.
How so? Reading has been found to stimulate every part of your brain and enhance connectivity between the different regions. Some of these effects can last days after your last read! Some other benefits of reading include increased empathy, reduced stress, and expanded vocabulary.
Neat! But how does it help with aging? A 2008 study showed that people (ages 70–86) who read and solve math problems every day have fewer signs of cognitive decline. A 2013 study also found that people who did mentally stimulating activities, like reading, throughout their lives were less likely to develop plaques, lesions, and tau-protein tangles, all of which are commonly found in the brains of people with dementia.
Wow, so reading can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? No, not quite. There’s no known way to definitively prevent either of those conditions. However, the healthy aging benefits of reading are promising enough that the National Institute on Aging recommends reading as a way to stay mentally sharp as you age."
2Lady19thC
>1 English-bookseller: This hits in so many ways, for me, right now.
My father is 94 1/2 and still very much an avid reader. He was the head librarian at a local school, as well as head of the Audio/Visual department. His mind is still incredibly sharp. Every day he reads the paper, magazines, does puzzles, reads books, reads articles on the computer, watches a movie or game show, twice a week he plays cards with fellow seniors and takes part in a pottery class. Reading and doing puzzles also kept him very busy during Covid quarantine and always gives us something exciting to chat about. He did brain teasers and questionnaires for fellow senior residents during that time and printed out copies to send off to the main desk. He still lives in a suite where he cares entirely for himself.
My MIL was a very avid reader, but as her friends started to pass or move away, her world became more narrow as she wasn't interested in making new ones. She read less, she remembered less. She never tried to get into technology, so no computer use, which would have been a great outlet for her to see what all her grandchildren were doing and watch interesting streams or documentaries. She didn't do any brain teasers or puzzles. She did not fare well during quarantine and came out of it with the beginnings of Dementia and very thin. She stopped reading books and stopped all her subscriptions. Things suddenly started failing fast 6 weeks ago and now she is in Memory Care, rarely having a lucid moment. She is now 90. Once upon a time she was a very bright woman with a Masters Degree in Biology and has 5 children.
I have learned a lot from watching these two elders in my life. Read, read new things, reread old things, do puzzles, do math, be creative, challenge yourself, keep growing new brain cells, learn languages, play games, anything that is new information and test yourself to see if you can retain it. Can you write an essay? Can you name the characters, describe books in detail, talk like an English professor lecturing? I know my MIL may have been prone to Dementia for whatever reason (those that we still don't know or understand) but I can't help noticing the difference in their lifestyles and choices they made. My father chose to stay active in socializing and studying/reading in his private time. My MIL chose not to socialize and dropped her interests, one by one.
I am very sad right now. I loved talking books with my MIL. I just inherited her beautiful tapestry book bag of a medieval design (unicorns, rather William Morris looking) and a lovely memory of her. I have lost one of my best book buddies. And when my father passes I will lose another one. Keep reading, folks. Good medicine. Good memories.
My father is 94 1/2 and still very much an avid reader. He was the head librarian at a local school, as well as head of the Audio/Visual department. His mind is still incredibly sharp. Every day he reads the paper, magazines, does puzzles, reads books, reads articles on the computer, watches a movie or game show, twice a week he plays cards with fellow seniors and takes part in a pottery class. Reading and doing puzzles also kept him very busy during Covid quarantine and always gives us something exciting to chat about. He did brain teasers and questionnaires for fellow senior residents during that time and printed out copies to send off to the main desk. He still lives in a suite where he cares entirely for himself.
My MIL was a very avid reader, but as her friends started to pass or move away, her world became more narrow as she wasn't interested in making new ones. She read less, she remembered less. She never tried to get into technology, so no computer use, which would have been a great outlet for her to see what all her grandchildren were doing and watch interesting streams or documentaries. She didn't do any brain teasers or puzzles. She did not fare well during quarantine and came out of it with the beginnings of Dementia and very thin. She stopped reading books and stopped all her subscriptions. Things suddenly started failing fast 6 weeks ago and now she is in Memory Care, rarely having a lucid moment. She is now 90. Once upon a time she was a very bright woman with a Masters Degree in Biology and has 5 children.
I have learned a lot from watching these two elders in my life. Read, read new things, reread old things, do puzzles, do math, be creative, challenge yourself, keep growing new brain cells, learn languages, play games, anything that is new information and test yourself to see if you can retain it. Can you write an essay? Can you name the characters, describe books in detail, talk like an English professor lecturing? I know my MIL may have been prone to Dementia for whatever reason (those that we still don't know or understand) but I can't help noticing the difference in their lifestyles and choices they made. My father chose to stay active in socializing and studying/reading in his private time. My MIL chose not to socialize and dropped her interests, one by one.
I am very sad right now. I loved talking books with my MIL. I just inherited her beautiful tapestry book bag of a medieval design (unicorns, rather William Morris looking) and a lovely memory of her. I have lost one of my best book buddies. And when my father passes I will lose another one. Keep reading, folks. Good medicine. Good memories.
3adriano77
>2 Lady19thC:
Sorry about your mother-in-law's situation. One of the absolute worst things that can happen to a person.
Sorry about your mother-in-law's situation. One of the absolute worst things that can happen to a person.
4bacchus.
>2 Lady19thC: Thank you for sharing your story.
6Lady19thC
>3 adriano77: Thank you so much. Yes, my grandmother and 3 aunts had it, as well. But never saw it progress this quickly.
>4 bacchus.: You are welcome. Very timely post.
>4 bacchus.: You are welcome. Very timely post.
7Willoyd
>1 English-bookseller:
Trying to justify your purchase of an extremely expensive new Folio Society book (when for the same sum of money you could buy a number of second hand Folio Society books...) then our 'mature' book-buyers might be interested in this defence of reading. I found this advice (and I am in no position to prove its truth or otherwise) on a health website called 'Healthline: Wellness Wire'.
So, rather than buy one "extremely expensive new Folio Society book", buy "for the same sum of money....a number of second hand Folio Society books" - and get even more reading under your belt (or maybe buy even more standard hardback/paperbacks). Expensive book collecting isn't reading!
Of course, the library is where it's really at!
Trying to justify your purchase of an extremely expensive new Folio Society book (when for the same sum of money you could buy a number of second hand Folio Society books...) then our 'mature' book-buyers might be interested in this defence of reading. I found this advice (and I am in no position to prove its truth or otherwise) on a health website called 'Healthline: Wellness Wire'.
So, rather than buy one "extremely expensive new Folio Society book", buy "for the same sum of money....a number of second hand Folio Society books" - and get even more reading under your belt (or maybe buy even more standard hardback/paperbacks). Expensive book collecting isn't reading!
Of course, the library is where it's really at!
8AlexBookshelfFrog
I read all my Suntup, Lividian and Folio Books.
Iam disgusted by those poor quality standard books. Hardbacks aren't worth the money in my opinion. If I would buy, then an paperback. Read it and throw it away if it starts to fall apart.
Even the Deluxe Editions publishers sometimes drop are an even bigger scam. They are as cheap produced as the Hardbacks, but costs 10-40€ more.
Iam disgusted by those poor quality standard books. Hardbacks aren't worth the money in my opinion. If I would buy, then an paperback. Read it and throw it away if it starts to fall apart.
Even the Deluxe Editions publishers sometimes drop are an even bigger scam. They are as cheap produced as the Hardbacks, but costs 10-40€ more.
9cronshaw
>7 Willoyd: Expensive book collecting isn't reading! Couldn't agree more :)
10A.Godhelm
>7 Willoyd: I think having enough funds for more books to read is a vastly smaller problem than having enough time in the days left until we croak to finish reading our libraries.
11dyhtstriyk
>8 AlexBookshelfFrog: I have a very easy personal rule: no sewn binding, no physical edition bought. As simple as that. Only on digital and I save 40-50% of the book price.
12Willoyd
>10 A.Godhelm:
Probably true, although depends on the books (new FS are pretty much out of my league now apart from the rare exception), but my library is mostly occupied with books I've yet to read, and I reckon I've now reached the stage where I don't think I have enough time left to read them all. Strong believer in Umberto Eco's anti-library!
>11 dyhtstriyk:
If I adopted that rule, most of the books I want to read would never get read - most of what I'm currently reading has never been available with sewn bindings (most never even been in hardback!), and many not available through Amazon, let alone on a Kindle.
Probably true, although depends on the books (new FS are pretty much out of my league now apart from the rare exception), but my library is mostly occupied with books I've yet to read, and I reckon I've now reached the stage where I don't think I have enough time left to read them all. Strong believer in Umberto Eco's anti-library!
>11 dyhtstriyk:
If I adopted that rule, most of the books I want to read would never get read - most of what I'm currently reading has never been available with sewn bindings (most never even been in hardback!), and many not available through Amazon, let alone on a Kindle.
13copperstatelawyer
>7 Willoyd:
Agreed. I'm starting to borrow the paperbacks from the library because they're lighter.
Agreed. I'm starting to borrow the paperbacks from the library because they're lighter.
