Reading for Health: How Books Support Mind and Body

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If you’re looking for an activity that’s good for your health, pick up a book.

Research shows that reading has many health benefits, from reducing stress to improving cognition. It can help you sleep better and make you more empathetic. One landmark study found that reading could even lengthen your life.

The best news is that reading is an effective wellness self-care activity for people of all ages — from children to older adults.

Learn more about the benefits of reading on your body and mind, and how to start a book habit for stress management.

What Are the Health Benefits of Reading?

Simply put, reading can have a lot of positive effects on our body and mind.

Reading and mental health

Research has consistently shown that reading can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health burdens:

• A 2024 study in Psychological Medicine analyzed the reading habits of more than 10,000 U.S. children. It found that children who read for pleasure from an early age had better mental health entering adolescence.
• A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychology reported that paper and audio reading reduced anxiety and depression in college students. Electronic reading had a smaller effect, and video reading had a minimal effect.
• A 2024 review in Current Psychiatry Research & Reviews reported that bibliotherapy (reading therapy) showed “significant” results in reducing depression symptoms in young and old patients.

Reading and cognitive health

Reading is a powerful brain health habit. It can help with language and speech development, memory, processing, and other cognitive skills. The benefits begin in early childhood and can last through old age.

Early childhood is a crucial time for reading, as it can establish cognitive benefits that last throughout life. Reading books to children can help with language development. As they progress to reading on their own, their language can develop further.

The 2024 study in Psychological Medicine reported that children who read early in life had moderately higher brain volumes in areas important for cognitive function.

Meanwhile, a 2024 review in Frontiers in Pediatrics reported that reading to children at least three times a week can lead to academic success. They’re more likely to recognize the alphabet, count to 20, and write their names when they enter kindergarten. These early learning benefits last throughout their education.

The effects of reading are long-lasting. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Psychology reported that reading led to better language processing and memory in older adults.

Reading and social connection

Reading can also help with social connection. Studies have shown that reading fiction allows people to connect with characters, building qualities like empathy.

Shared reading experiences like book clubs also provide benefits for social connection and stress relief. A 2025 study in Social and Emotional Learning examined the positive effects of book clubs on neurodiverse children. The researchers found that book clubs fostered environments for empathy, inclusion, joy, and social growth.

Reading and sleep

Many people like to wind down their day with a book or other reading material. That habit may help them get a better night’s sleep.

Reading before bed can help you relax. In turn, relaxing can lead to falling asleep faster and to better overall sleep. A 2022 study in Aging & Mental Health reported that reading before bed improved sleep for older and younger adults.

A simple nightly reading routine for better sleep could involve reading for 15 to 30 minutes before bed. It’s best to read a physical book, as the blue light from screens can interfere with sleep.

Reading and physical health

Many researchers have studied the effects of reading on mental and cognitive health. But it may also have some benefits for physical health.

A landmark 2016 study in Social Science & Medicine reported that book readers live on average 23 months longer than non-book readers.

There may be other health benefits of reading. According to the 2024 review in Frontiers in Pediatrics, reading in childhood can lead to better physical health in adulthood. Lower literacy rates can lead to poor outcomes.

How Much Do You Need to Read Per Day?

There isn’t a magic number for how much you should read every day. Different studies have used different benchmarks for reading time and health benefits.

For example, the Social Science & Medicine study that linked reading to longevity used 3.5 hours per week as a benchmark. That equates to 30 minutes a day.

Meanwhile, the Psychological Medicine study reported that 12 hours was the ideal reading time for children. That equates to nearly an hour and 45 minutes per day.

For adults, aiming for about 30 minutes daily is a good goal, but less than that can still be beneficial. For children, more reading is better because it can help with their cognitive development.

Are Physical Books Better Than E-Books for Health?

Some studies have shown that physical books have more benefits than electronic books.

A 2023 study in Review of Educational Research reported that traditional print reading led to better reading comprehension than digital reading. Digital reading had a negative effect on reading comprehension in elementary and middle school students.

A 2024 study in PLOS One also reported that physical reading had more benefits than digital reading. The study reported that physical reading reduced anxiety and depression and improved sleep more than electronic reading. The study added that audiobooks were as effective as physical reading.

Is Fiction Better Than Nonfiction for Health?

Research has reported that fiction reading is better than nonfiction for certain qualities.

Two meta-analyses published in 2024 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General reported that reading fiction led to more cognitive benefits than nonfiction. The biggest effects were on verbal skills and general cognitive skills.

Fiction can help build qualities like empathy, which has roots in emotional and cognitive health. It allows readers to connect to characters and understand their motivations.

That doesn’t mean nonfiction has zero benefits. A 2021 study in Scientific Study of Literature reported that both fiction and nonfiction have social and cognitive benefits. Reading of any kind can have benefits, the authors argued.

How Can You Build a Healthy Reading Routine?

If you’re not a reader already, starting a new routine may feel daunting. But there are easy ways to read more, even when you’re busy. Try some of the following tips:

• Start small — Like any routine, it’s best not to aim too high too quickly. Try with a simple, achievable goal like reading for 10 or 15 minutes a day. You can expand as you go.
• Be consistent — Consistency is key for any type of routine. You want to try to read every day, if possible. You likely will miss days, and that’s OK; just get back on track as quickly as you can.
• Read what you enjoy — There are dozens of book genres out there. Are you into crime novels? Fantasy? Historical fiction? Nonfiction? Romance? All of the above? Or something else entirely? Finding what you like to read can help you become a consistent reader.
• Schedule time to read — Consider setting aside a specific time for reading — with your morning coffee, during your work commute, after dinner, before bed. Maybe you can sneak a few pages in between daily tasks. Everyone’s schedule is different, so try finding what works for you.
• Keep it distraction-free — It may seem impossible in today’s world, but getting rid of distractions is vital. Keeping your screens off and your phone on silent can make it easier to focus on reading.
• Make it social — Reading doesn’t have to be an independent activity. Maybe you and a friend can read the same book and discuss it, or you could join a book club. Not only does this allow for social bonding, but it can also help keep you accountable.

Many of these tips can apply to adults and kids. But if your goal is to foster a healthy reader, then it’s important to make reading a consistent part of their daily routine from a young age. That means reading to them in early childhood and continuing to encourage reading as they grow older.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a bedtime reading routine for kids as part of its “Brush, Book, Bed” initiative. The program encourages parents to:

• Help their child brush their teeth.
• Read to them.
• Tuck them into bed.

Making books a regular part of your child’s life can help with their development. They can benefit from it for many years to come.