“If you are too busy to read, you are too busy.” Richard J. Foster, Freedom of Simplicity.

Reading good books is something that everyone, regardless of differences, can benefit from. It can be hard to make time to read, but once you do, you will often prefer it over other pastimes and entertainment such as movies or TV!

Now that it gets dark so early, my husband and I haven’t been going to our land in the evenings. One way we’ve used this extra time is by reading. Both of us are enjoying many good books!

I’ve mostly read nonfiction recently. In fact, I think 2023 might be the first year that I will have read more nonfiction than fiction. I still love reading stories, but am finding a new joy in nonfiction.

I’ll have another post sometime soon about the benefits of reading fiction, but here are some benefits of reading nonfiction:

We can learn more about God. Reading books by good theologians, historians, philosophers, biographers, and others can teach us a lot about God. Theology just means study of God, and like other studies, we should learn from great teachers who have dedicated years to studying the Bible.

We can learn more about other topics that interest us. Books are one of the best ways to continue learning about what interests you. Whether it’s history, science, writing, language, art, construction, farming, or health, there is a plethora of books out there to accumulate knowledge about many useful things. If you aren’t sure what interests you, pick something and read a book about it! You’ll find out whether you like it or not!

We can learn more about the world we live in and those who have come before us. This builds on the first two premises, but knowing more about the world and people helps us live better lives and serve God and others better. Reading about those who have been persecuted will help us be bold. Reading about discrimination will encourage us pursue equality. Reading about those who have forgiven will teach us to forgive.

We can expand our minds and knowledge of words and sentences. While what you read certainly matters, reading itself helps your brain grow. It is a mind exercise that makes you smart. 🙂 You will learn new words and new ways to form sentences. This is especially true if you choose to read some harder books. While you may not always be able to understand everything right away, you are growing your mind muscles and are forced to think more deeply. This isn’t always as fun as other aspects of reading, but it is so good for you!

We keep our focus on the real world. While I love escaping into a fun novel or movie as much as the next person, reading only fictional stories separates us from the real world. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it cannot teach us truth in the same way that nonfiction does. If we only read fiction, we see what does happen or what could happen, but not what has happened or should happen. All of these are important to consider. Even if you are a fiction lover, you may find that reading nonfiction will help you appreciate stories more!

While not everyone has to be an avid reader, everyone can benefit from good books. If you think you don’t have time to read, try to eliminate some little thing and pick up a good book instead. Stay off social media or choose not to watch a movie. Carry a fun book in your purse or backpack and read on your lunch break or in the waiting room. You may be surprised how much time you have to read if you only search for it!

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy a related post from June 2022: “Why Writers must be Readers”