The power of books is undeniable, and much has been written about how books can change us. Stories, both fiction and non-fiction alike, provide new lenses with which to view the world, enabling readers to absorb lessons over time with a fresh perspective.
Each book presents a reader with an opportunity to gain an understanding of the world in a broader context, through the characters and themes depicted in the narrative. By reading books or novels, it’s possible to discover parts of yourself and feel as though a particular character or story illuminates your own personal truths.
Sometimes when an author expresses their deepest emotions, it connects you to feelings inside that you have yet to experience, eliciting joy, healing, gratitude, reverence, and more. You change when you read! You may find that strengthening your capacity for empathy, developing into a better writer, becoming a bigger and better person, escaping reality, changing habits, improving concentration, stimulating the intellectual mind, and increasing pleasure are some of the ways that books can change you.
Reading a brand new book
When reading a new book, we are reminded that the way we look at things depends on our frame of reference. Even one good book can expand your horizons in the most unexpected and meaningful ways. Just allowing yourself to feel what the characters in the story feel can be liberating and healing. Realizing how books can change us for the better encourages us to step outside our comfort zone, and whet our appetite for new characters and stories that challenge established ways of thinking.
Going back to an old favorite
On the other hand, there is something to be said about rereading your favorite books, especially at different points in your life when your perspectives may have shifted. The impact a book has on your way of thinking may drastically differ based on the stage of life you are in when you read it. Just because it’s the same story doesn’t mean your takeaways will always be the same.
Books with universal themes, like love stories, can capture the hearts and minds of readers in their youth who then come to cherish the characters more and more as they grow older. It’s not hard to see why love stories are so popular when you consider how relatable stories of romance and relationships are to readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Regardless of genre, cultivating an interest in books can develop into a lifelong joy, providing you with a delightful form of entertainment as well as improved cognitive health over time. As long as you continue to read, books will continue to change you positively.