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At school, we did this activity that you can answer and share with us your own preferences!

1.- What kind of reading materials does she/he like?

2.- When does he/she like to read?

3.- Where does she/he like to read?

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We can find vocabulary in stories/fairy tales, books, in the classroom, and many activities can be derived from this material to help improve pronunciation, reading, and writing.

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In this webpage you can find some interesting books for begginers

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Last updated on April 26, 2022

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

For some of us, this quote is a reminder of the books we spent so much time reading and re-reading. For others, it is a promise that there’s definitely a book out there that will blow your mind!

To find the kind of books that can help you forget the rest of the world, you’ll have to build the habit of active reading. The best books to read for beginners are quick, simple English novels, entertaining easy reads with small-medium sized chapters.

Not all of us can pick up a highly recommended book and enjoy it as intended. If you get distracted easily, or find it difficult to sit down long enough to finish a book, that’s pretty normal.

Don’t be discouraged if you didn’t breeze through that 800 page novel recommended by the internet or a friend. The best books to read for beginners are often overlooked as recommendations.

Moreover, reading styles differ from person to person. So, here is a quality list of the best books to start reading habit.

Books have been mankind’s greatest source of knowledge and entertainment for the better part of 2000 years now. Reading many books has always been synonymous with being intelligent, but does science back this up?

Reading books help you keep your brain busy being imaginative, calculative, and interpretive. Some of the benefits of reading include relieving stress significantly, better your interpretation powers, gives a boost to your creative side, improves your sleep, and more. Let’s have a deeper look at the importance of developing a healthy reading habit.

Here are some ways regular reading can benefit you

Brain Gym

Reading engages several areas of your brain and strengthens the connections between them. It is also associated with improved memory and concentration.
Participants in a 2013 study were reading the novel “Pompeii” for 9 days and researchers used MRI scans to track their brain activity. The scans revealed that the connections between different areas of the brain were significantly improved.

Emotional Intelligence

People who read more, are usually more capable of understanding the emotions of other people. Reading habits help offer insight into different mindsets and emotions that we might never experience ourselves.
According to research, people who read a lot, in the long run, develop an understanding of the “Theory of mind”. This theory helps you better perceive the way other people think, and allows you to navigate your social life more precisely.

Better Communication

Reading more helps you expand your vocabulary and the way you use it. You may have noticed that even though you know some words, you never actually use them.
Many words can mean the same thing, but change the tone of your sentences to provide more context. Example – “The glass broke” vs “The glass shattered” can tell you the severity of the damage and the way it broke. With good reading habits, you’ll find yourself fluently using words that fit better.

Fight Cognitive Decline as You Grow Older

Reading helps you keep your mind engaged and maintain your mental faculties. Research has found that reading and other mentally stimulating activities like sudoku and math problems can help battle dementia.

Control Stress and Promote Better Sleep

Reading can be as helpful in reducing stress levels as yoga or a good hearty laugh. 30 minutes of reading was observed to reduce blood pressure, stress and heart rates.
If you include reading as part of your sleep routine, you can fall asleep faster and sleep deeper. Try to avoid screens for your reading and if you have trouble sleeping, avoid reading in your bedroom.

These English books for beginners are fast-paced, easy reads that are taut with emotion and action.

1. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

Follow the journey of Santiago, a young shepherd boy from Andalusia, Spain. He chases a recurring dream that tells him to travel far in order to find his treasure and “personal legend”.

The winding road the story takes you on will have you both rooting and deterring the protagonist through his journey. At the same time, it keeps you wondering, “what would I do” at every decision point. The Alchemist is one of many books written by Coelho, and his works are considered among the best books to start reading habit.

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khalid Hosseini

The twists and turns of life can ruin the best-laid plans, but you still have to persevere. This is a book you’ll struggle to put down, even when things take dark turns and you can’t imagine a happy ending.

The writing in A Thousand Splendid Suns is nicely paced and makes you feel a range of emotions that are positive, negative and neutral. Khalid Hosseini is popular for his solid storytelling style. Hence, A Thousand Splendid Suns will leave you rooting for the characters and give you insights into a different world right here on earth.

3. Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank

In her diary, a young Anne Frank describes the trials faced by her and her family as they try to escape the fascist regime of Nazi Germany. The diary spans two years of her life at “The secret annexe” from age 13 until 15 when they were discovered.

The diary is famed for its authenticity and the innocent perspective of a young Jewish girl who just wanted to live a normal life. If you are looking to expand your worldview and see the world from a different set of eyes, this is a great start.

4. Chicken Soup for the Soul books – Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen

These are an anthology collection of short stories that are bundled together and released in regular volumes. The stories are impactful and perfect for daily light reading. That’s what makes them some of the best books to read for beginners.

Chicken soup for the soul books will help you develop a regular craving for a good read, and brings out lovely stories from ordinary, everyday lives. The reading is light, which is what makes it one of the best book recommendations for beginners.

5. The Outsiders Book – S.E. Hinton

Written by a 16-year-old S. E. Hinton, The Outsiders Book is one of those simple English novels that describe the rivalry of two neighbourhood gangs. The Greasers (working class) and Socs (upper class) clash with increasing intensity until both sides have had enough.

The protagonist of the story in The Outsiders Book is Curtis Ponyboy who is one of the greasers alongside his two elder brothers. The outsider’s book offers insight into a world of dysfunctional families and how things can get suddenly out of hand.

6. The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros

The story of Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old girl growing up in Chicago is one of heartbreak and redemption. The book begins with her moving into a new neighbourhood, where she would go from being a little girl to a woman.

The House on Mango Street deals with complex subjects like domestic violence, sexism, racism and sexual harassment faced by girls like Esperanza on a day to day basis. Moreover, The House on Mango Street is one of the best easy reads for beginners, especially among young adults.

Find a home for your books. Get yourself a creative bookshelf!

“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” – C.S. Lewis
The line between books for children and adults can be very fine. Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland were written for children, but the stories are so rich, they are enjoyed by adults all over the world too. How to develop reading habit among children?
Illustrated and interactive English books for beginners are a great way to instil an active reading habit in children. It allows them to enjoy a good story without thinking of it as a chore.

1. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White

Charlotte’s Web is a classic published in 1952 details the adventures of a farm pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. It is one of the best selling children’s books of all time and made reading appealing to many children.

Charlotte’s Web is a story of an unlikely friendship that teaches children the importance of companionship and creativity in the face of difficulties. The book ranks high among the best books to read for beginners because of its simplicity.

2. Harry Potter Illustrated Books – J.K. Rowling

What started off as a book for children, evolved into a story that captured hearts all over the world. With the Harry Potter illustrated books, the world of witchcraft and wizardry becomes accessible even to little children.

The magical realm of the Harry Potter series makes children gradually develop good reading habits down the line! It’s so much easier to understand magic potions, flying keys and fierce three-headed dogs named fluffy when you can see them. Harry Potter illustrated books offers a sense of wonder and how to imagine a fantasy world in their minds.

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney

This comic book series has been a big hit among young readers since it started in 2007. The protagonist is Greg Heffley, a scrawny kid who wants to be popular at school, but just can’t seem to get it right.

This cartoon novel is styled as a journal that Greg is writing for the day he becomes “Rich and Famous”. The book is designed to look like a school notebook with handwriting and illustrations, as though a student wrote it. The relatability of the character and the simplicity of the storytelling is what makes this series one of the best book recommendations for beginners.

4. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carrol

From bizarre creatures with ridiculous names to strange food that changes everything, the book gives every reader a rich palette to colour their imagination with.

In the strange place called wonderland, the reader is taken down the rabbit hole with Alice. The book is one unpredictable adventure after another and gives children a thorough exercise in mental imagery. This is why it has always been one of the best books to read for beginners.

“All books are divisible into two classes: the books of the hours, and the books of all Time.” – John Ruskin

Some books transcend time and stay relevant no matter how the world changes. The best classic books have something new to teach us every time we read or reread them. These books are often written in a tone and style that you aren’t used to. You will often find that the characters speak in ways that seem strange and foreign. So, here are some of the best book recommendations for beginners that will help you with your quest on how to develop reading habit.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Set during an era of racism, this novel offers a perspective into what it was like to fight against social prejudice. The story is narrated by the daughter of Atticus Finch, who is one of literature’s greatest moral heroes.

Arguably one of the best books to read for beginners, this novel highlights the depth and dangers of racism, this classic is a must-read for everyone. While the subject sounds bleak, it is still somehow peppered with warmth and humour. The book is considered to be one of the more simple English novels based on the writing style. It was written based on events that occurred in the author’s hometown when she was 10 years old.

2. Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

Since it was published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye book has been an anthem among young adults. The novel follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a teen from California struggling with depression.

The Catcher in the Rye book is set in post world war 2 and covers a range of complex issues as Caulfield struggles to find his place in the world. His difficulty maintaining relationships with his family and others make him relatable to those feeling alienated by society. Fun Fact – There was a rush in Hollywood to turn the Catcher in the Rye book into a movie, but J.D. Salinger was adamant never to let it happen. It is probably one of the best classic books that never made it to the big screen.

3. Animal Farm – George Orwell

This critically acclaimed novel was a famous take on communism and its dark underbelly. Written from the perspective of animals on a farm who overthrew the farmers, it tells us how revolutions can turn ugly.

The quote “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” sums up the book better than any other description could. Animal farm was Orwell’s subtle and humorous way of highlighting the issues of authoritarian societies Another groundbreaking work by Orwell, although much darker, is 1984. It takes us through the perils of a surveillance state, where the government has more power over people than it should. People often draw parallels between George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”. There is a stark contrast that is worth looking into between the way both these authors have imagined a dystopian future. Although they deal with complex subjects, the stories are written simply, which is why they are some of the best books to read for beginners.

4. The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas

Known for sword fighting, subterfuge and drama, this epic classic is a great read for readers both young and old. The tale follows the story of Edmond Dantes in 19th century France at the end of Napoleon’s era.

At just 19 years old, Dantes is forced on a dangerous adventure to free himself from the clutches of the evil people conspiring against him before taking his revenge. Alexandre Dumas is also known for his famous book, “The Three Musketeers”, which is also one of the best books to read for beginners.

Reading is a simple, relaxing way to pass the time but it is still a habit that needs to be built. Many people struggle to focus on a book because it takes more patience than a TV show, movie or video game.

Moreover, reading is not at all overwhelming as most believe it to be. Also, there are ample benefits of reading that you can unlock. A lot of people have questions about how to develop reading habit. To which we say, here are some thoughtful tips that can actually build good reading habits.

If you want to read more, but aren’t able to get through to that sweet spot, here are a few things you can try.

Start with Simple Short Stories

Simple Short Stories like chicken soup for the soul are a great, non-committal way to get into reading. Depending on the story, you’ll spend up to half an hour to finish it, sometimes more.

Being able to finish what you are reading gives your reading habits a great boost. There’s something intimidating about a half-finished book that makes it difficult to keep reading. With short stories, you don’t have to worry about it. Hence, starting with easy reads stands as one of the most helpful reading tips.

Choose a Theme that Interests You

This could be anything from a region to an era or even the social setting of the story. The best books to read for beginners allow you to draw parallels and connections from things you know and feel.

Build a Reading Nook

Make a space where you can read comfortably, with the right kind of lighting and freedom from interruptions. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, it just has to be somewhere you like reading. But if it’s your study where you read books, make sure to use a chair and table with ergonomic designs.

A nice bookshelf arrangement, a mug of tea or coffee and a nice comfy place to sit or lie down help you ease into books. The right kind of book will have you hunched over on the floor as you zip through pages, but always start comfortably. Thus, creating a nook is one of the reading tips that is really helpful for new readers. A bookshelf arrangement not only eases someone into books but can minimise your time and energy to look for the correct book on your shelf. You can also enhance the bookshelf by getting some bookshelf decors. You can take a look at small study room design to get cues and decorate your study! Some people have trouble sleeping if they read in bed, if you aren’t one of them, make sure you get a bed with a nice headboard. Without a headboard, you will end up straining your neck and back unnecessarily. At Wakefit, we provide headboard options on all our beds to make staying in bed more comfortable. With our range of beds, you can find the perfect headboard to rest on while you read. We also create elegant bookshelf decor for you to put up your favourite books. Better yet, look at some thoughtful decor ideas for a small living room and see how your shelf can be a perfect fit! Choose from a variety of styles made with solid or engineered wood to suit your bookshelf arrangement. Moreover, the Wakefit prose corner bookshelf is a cheap and slick way to enhance your reading area. It provides enough space for a starter reading space and you can spruce it up with your hand-picked bookshelf decor.

Set a Time for Reading

Whether you like reading in the daytime or after the sun sets, choose half an hour a day to do it.

If you’re riveted to the book and need more time, you can take it, but try to consistently read at the same time every day. This is one of the reading tips that helps you stick to the routine and thus develop reading habits.
Many people enjoy some light reading before bed since there are no interruptions and the only thing left to do for the day is sleep. If you prefer reading in natural light, free up some time during the day and get cosy with what you want to read. Some
good books for light reading are Malibu Rising, The Midnight Library & The Wedding Date.

Set Reading Goals

Start small, with 10 simple short stories a month, or a single English books for beginners and work your way up from there. As you maintain the habit, you will read faster and be able to spend long hours reaping the benefits of reading.
If you’re looking to read a long book, a good way to go about it is to set goals for how many chapters you should read in a week. This is on of the reading tips that is especially helpful when you’re reading books that slow down in the middle as the plot develops.

Your peaceful reading corner needs a thoughtful bookshelf. See what we got!

Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Books to Read for Beginners

There’s no single list that can fully answer this question. If you like futuristic stories, Isaac Asimov’s short story collections are a good place to start. If you want something that represents the average modern person, try out the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Here is a list of the best books to start healthy reading habits:

Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khalid Hosseini

The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros

To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee

Animal Farm – George Orwell

You have to find a connection you enjoy in order to find a book interesting. Look through the synopsis and try to find a theme or setting that appeals to you.

As a new reader, you can start with simple short stories first. And to maintain the habit consistently, make sure to keep a reading time. Also, set reading goals. Follow these reading tips to develop healthy reading habits.

Choose your books carefully. To start with, make sure they are short and fast-paced.

Make sure you finish what you start. Not finishing a book can discourage you from reading more regularly.

Set a time for reading a few times a week. Choose a time where you will have no disturbances and make yourself comfortable for a good reading session.

If you cannot read long novels, try short stories or comic books. Over time, it will become easier to spend more time reading.

Indian books reflect a lot about our social aspects and teaching us ample! Here are the top 10 books by Indian Authors in 2021:

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

A Map of Longings by Manan Kapoor

Right Between The Ears by Sandeep Dayal

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

The Crossing by Manjeet Mann

Wereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Jungle Nama by Amitav Ghosh.

The Ocean’s Own by Nandini Sengupta

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Reading before bed is a great habit. It help keep your mind busy and calculative thereby tiring you even more. Thereby, you drift to sleep quickly. This way, the right books help improve your sleep as well. Here are the best books to start reading habits before bed.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Vessel by Cai Chongda

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Reading before sleep helps relieve stress to a great extent. It keep your mind interpreting storylines. Also, when done regularly, you experience a boost in your creativity. Here are some more reasons to develop a healthy reading habit!

Reading is a stress buster

Develops brain power

Unlocks creativity

Improved sleep

Calming and distracting

The best way to relax before falling asleep

Expands imagination

Experts suggest some books on sleep that cover the science of rest. You tend to understand the importance of sleep and yes, drift off quicker.

The Happy Place by Heather Turgeon

The Nocturnal Journal by Lee Crutchley

The Sleep Solution by Dr. Chris Winter

Snooze: The Lost Art of Sleep by Michale McGirr

Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day by Dr. Robert Rosenberg

Fantasy is proven to be the best genre before bed. Fantasy fiction is designed for escapism. These books, stories and characters are known to distract us and force us to think about the story rather than our own lives.

An engaging plot can allow us to immerse ourselves into a whole other world which replaces our own internal restlessness and monologues. Hence it is recommended to read fantasy fiction before bed!

What to Read Next

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Best Books to Read for Beginners: Develop a Reading Habit 2022 | Wakefit

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As new readers, you can start with these best books to read for beginners in 2022. It’s never too late to enjoy the benefits of reading!

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“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

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To enjoy the padlet please star the presentation!

(click "..." and then "start presentation")

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Literature can help us make better sense of our world, our lives, and ourselves. Literature has the power to give us an enriched understanding of other worlds, lives, and times, of the way things have been and how they might be.

There are a number of reasons why English teachers are turning back to literature as a way to develop students’ reading skill, for example:

It encourages students to communicate with others, by sharing their thoughts and feelings about the story.

Students engage with the attitudes and opinions expressed by the author or the characters. This helps students to develop their sense of self, their moral code, and their understanding of the world.

Exposure to non-standard forms of English (as is often found in novels) can help students to recognize norms and patterns.

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"Literature Is One Of The Most Interesting And Significant Expressions Of Humanity."
-P. T. Barnum

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Aside from the sheer joy of exercising the imagination, research shows reading for pleasure improves literacy, social skills, health, and learning outcomes.

The National Library Trust (UK), defines reading for pleasure, also referred to as independent, leisure or recreational reading, as:

Reading we do of our own free will, anticipating the satisfaction we will get from the act of reading.

They add that it's also reading that may have begun at someone else’s request, which we continue because we are interested in it. Christina Clark and Kate Rumbold note that reading for pleasure can be described as an act of play, which allows us to experience different worlds in our imagination and a creative and active/ interactive process.

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Start reading for pleasure after studying

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Start reading for pleasure after studying

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Work your way through that bucket list
One your spare time or maybe some break from school, look for the books you haven't finished or are interested in

Create a space within which you can relax
Maybe reading on your way home/work is not for you but in the morning, at breakfast, in bed before sleeping, or even in the bathroom.

Start your own book club or join one
Being surrounded by people with the same interest and who you can talk about can really motivate you.
Try something different about
Podcast, manga, webcomics. poetry; literature comes in so many forms, try things out of your comfort zone and you might find something new that you like.

A Bonus tip!
Interact with your books so reading can be a more active hobby. How? well do some notes on the sides or mark your favorite parts! Don't listen to people if they say that you should do that, it's your book so go ahead!

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Writers can choose from a wide range of genres in literature to suit their personal interests and writing styles. A genre of literature is a classification that describes the content, tone, and style of a writer's work. Understanding the different genres of literature can help you decide what type to pursue as a writer.
In the landscape of literature, there are four major genres: poetry, drama, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Writers can then further categorize their literature into subgenres. Subgenres are smaller and more specific versions of a genre.

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Interesting image from internet of a pair of glasses on a book. Can be find as "literature" on google.

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Literature, a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution.

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Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty.It should be offered to them as a precious gift.
— Kate DiCamillo.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF READING FOR PLEASURE?

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF READING FOR PLEASURE?

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In this link we invite you to read an essay by Abigail Pineau about the importance of this topic!

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by Abigail Pineau Abigail is a nursing major living in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Abigail enjoys reading for pleasure, but before researching this essay she "never knew just how impactful it was." She said that after researching this subject it became "important for me that students and parents know just how impactful pleasure reading is." In addition to reading, Abigail's other passion is nursing, as she loves both helping people in need and learning how we function as humans.
As children, we are taught by our parents and teachers that we should read outside of class to get smarter. And so, we read. But do we actually get smarter? I was curious as to what the benefits of pleasure reading are. In my research, I looked for the academic benefits that result from pleasure reading, but I only found a few studies about the academic benefit. What was interesting to me was that most studies and articles were conducted with social and personal benefits of pleasure reading in mind. According to the research I have done, our teachers and parents might have actually been wrong.

In order for pleasure reading to be considered pleasurable, you cannot be forced to read; it must be a personal decision. Jennifer and Ponniah (2015), who focus on the academic benefits of pleasure reading, wrote that if a student does not feel that they have autonomy over their reading choices then it will not be pleasurable to them (p. 3). According to Research Evidence (2012) the more someone reads, the more they like to read, and the more that person will benefit from it (p. 3). I agree with this but it needs to be emphasized that this only works if the reader experiences pleasure. I believe that if you are forced to read, much like academic reading, you will not receive any of these benefits. You need to be excited to read and curious about the text, you need to get pleasure from the text you are reading.

In 2016, Wilhelm and Smith conducted a study because they were curious about what types of pleasure teenagers get when they read books that are typically frowned upon by parents and teachers (i.e. romances, vampire stories, horror, dystopian fiction, and fantasy). They interviewed 8th graders about why they read, what the feel when they read and how it connects to their lives. Through these interviews, Wilhelm and Smith concluded that there are 4 kinds of pleasure a reader gets from pleasure reading: play, intellect, social, and work (p. 25).

Wilhelm and Smith (2016) believe that the pleasure you get from reading something you like is similar to the pleasure you get from playing (p. 27). Wilhelm and Smith assigned the phrase "pleasure of play" (p. 27) to this concept. The concept that Wilhelm and Smith call "the pleasure of play," Jennifer and Ponniah (2015) call "aesthetic reading" (p. 2). These terms can be used interchangeably. Aesthetic reading is basically the feeling a reader gets when they find a book that they can't put down; this feeling is what is considered the pleasure factor in pleasure reading. According to Wilhelm and Smith, feeling is a prerequisite to the other three pleasures: intellect, work and social. I absolutely agree with this because when I read, a book is not pleasurable to me unless I feel that I can't put it down. If a student does not have this 'pleasure of play', I do not think it should be considered pleasure reading.

I love the concept of social pleasure, it is so relevant and very apparent, at least it is in my life. Wilhelm and Smith (2016) define social pleasure as connecting to others and identifying yourself through pleasure reading (p. 28). To me one form of social pleasure is when a reader either finishes a book or a chapter and instantly feels the need to talk to someone about it. I experience this with every pleasure book I read, but the most mind-blowing book I read that had this social effect is called We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This is the first example that comes to mind when I think of social pleasure, but there are many more. Another possible way of experiencing social pleasure is seeing someone holding a book that you are also reading or that you have read, and feeling compelled to go over to them and to talk to them about the book. This connection could spark a friendship.

Social pleasure could also influence someone to read a book. I started reading because I heard my friends talk constantly about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I started to feel left out, so I picked up the book and this caused me to be the bookworm I am today. Jennifer and Ponniah (2015) theorize that if a non-reader socializes with a pleasure-reader about a book they have not read, it may prompt them to read that book to feel included (p. 3). This can cause a new reader to begin to like reading rather than experiencing more typical negative feelings towards reading. Negative feelings or hatred towards reading can be counteracted with a basic theory developed by Jennifer and Ponniah, the theory that pleasure reading can cure readicide (p. 1). Jennifer and Ponniah define readicide as a "systematic killing of the love for reading" ( p. 1). This means that through various methods, people, usually teachers, unknowingly kill the love of reading for their students. This may occur through requiring students to read academic texts. Academic texts make students feel too much anxiety since the students may not understand the texts on their own because the books are usually at a higher reading level. Jennifer and Ponniah believe that pleasure reading cures readicide because the "curiosity of the content presented in texts", often influenced by a social experience, creates a "[sustained] interest and extends the time devoted for reading" (p. 2). So basically, if you read a text that is interesting to you, there is a higher chance you will continue to read for pleasure.

I think the most important pleasure, or benefit that a student can receive from pleasure reading is the pleasure of work. Wilhelm and Smith (2016), talk about a physical work and an inner work (p. 29). To me, the inner work of a reader is far more important than physical work. Physical work is when you read a text and use it to accomplish something (p. 29), but I think this rarely occurs, unless you are in a specific workplace or class that requires outside reading. On the other hand, inner work is when someone tries to change to become the best version of themselves (p. 29). I often experience inner work by putting myself in a character's shoes. It is beneficial to see other people's perspective as this perspective may influence the way a reader sees the world and views other people's lives. Venning (2015) states that placing yourself in other's shoes will increase a readers' empathy because they may learn something about various hardships a person may go through. I would have never known what it was like to live with short term memory loss, or to walk around with a birthmark covering half of my face without reading the One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr or North of Beautiful by Justina Chen. Knowing that someone's life is different than your own can create an empathetic person. This type of inner work is usually done unknowingly. But, you can also knowingly take part in inner work where you try to better yourself as a whole. A reader can also experience inner work by reading self-help books where they purposefully try to better themselves. This book genre has become very popular and is very beneficial to the reader in terms of inner work.

I think that most people start to read and continue the hobby because it is very calming. Venning (2015) states that pleasure reading reduces anxiety. The fact that pleasure reading reduces anxiety is important because everyone has stressors in their life like money, jobs, and school; pleasure reading can help take your mind off of these stressors. Pleasure reading is known to put forth a calming energy. It is almost like you are in your own little bubble when you read. This calmness that one experiences can reduce anxiety for the time that a person is pleasure reading. This is one of the reasons that I continued to pleasure read. When I read, I don't think about any stressors in my life like grades, money or fitting in. When I read a good book, I solely think about the book's characters and what is happening in their life rather than mine. The book may even be a stressful book-maybe it is a thriller or a character is going through a breakup-but what is calming and stress reducing about it is that you are not dwelling on a stressor in your own life.

According to Wilhelm and Smith's (2016) four pleasures, only one pleasure affects a person's intelligence, which is "intellectual pleasure" (p. 27). This shows how much more of an impact pleasure reading is on the student themselves than on their academic life. This is not to say that there are no academic benefits to pleasure reading, the social and personal benefits just outweigh the academic benefits. The academic benefits of pleasure reading are enhancing vocabulary, grammar, spelling, comprehension, exam scores and reading strategies.

Jennifer and Ponniah (2015), Research Evidence (2012) and Wilhelm and Smith (2016) all believe that comprehension skills (i.e. vocabulary, grammar, spelling etc.) are improved when a student pleasure reads. When a reader comes across a term in an academic text that is either the same or similar to a word they have read when pleasure reading, they have a higher chance of correctly defining and comprehending the word, which leads to a better comprehension of the text. This is because the reader will be familiar with the word and its meaning through pleasure reading (Jennifer and Ponniah, 2015, p. 4) which will in turn make the student comprehend the academic text better, as a whole. This comprehension does not stop at vocabulary, grammar and spelling; pleasure reading also helps with comprehension on academic exams (Research Evidence, 2012, p. 9).

According to Research Evidence (2012) pleasure readers are better exam takers than non-pleasure readers(p. 11),. Students who read information-based sources rather than pleasure books "tended to have lower attainment" (or comprehension); those who read for information (not pleasure) only once or twice a month score higher than those who read for information every day. Put another way, it is better for the reader to read pleasurable texts than academic texts when it comes to performing well on exams. This is because when students try to read academic texts without the guidance of a teacher, they will confuse themselves and may not retain the information as easily as a student who pleasure reads would without a teacher to guide them (Jennifer and Ponniah, 2015, pg. 4). And when it comes to applying what you have learned from either pleasure reading or academic reading, the pleasure reading will be much easier to apply since the reader had a much easier time understanding it and analyzing it. On the other hand, if you are asked to analyze an academic text, it will most likely be much harder.

Jennifer and Ponniah (2015) claim that the current testing strategies used in schools negatively affects pleasure reading and causes readicide in students (p. 2). This may be the result of being taught a "graded orientation" rather than a "learning orientation". A grading orientation is when students read something and memorize it for a short amount of time to get a good grade and a learning orientation is when students read something and understand it to remember forever (p. 2). This graded orientation often comes from the exam taking strategies students are taught. Students are often taught to temporarily learn the topics rather than to comprehend them and to remember them. Pleasure reading helps students to comprehend texts, whether are for pleasure or academic purposes, so if a student pleasure reads they are able to test better than their non-reader peers. The students who do not pleasure read also shallow read rather than deep reading to pass a class. According to Jennifer and Ponniah deep reading is when a student analyzes a text and retains the information presented to them (p. 2). Shallow reading is deep reading's counterpart; when students do not analyze texts nor retain the information. This often looks like skipping over hard-to-comprehend parts. Non-reader students who have not been taught or have not learned how to analyze and comprehend higher level texts would typically just skip over that section or reading. Although, if these students pleasure read, they would be better equipped to comprehend these harder sections and will succeed more than their non-reader peers.

The theory, presented by Jennifer and Ponniah (2015) that pleasure reading aids in the ability to comprehend academic texts, also results in improving a student's mental health (p. 3). According to Venning (2015) pleasure reading helps to reduce anxiety. If a student is better able to understand and remember a text, they will have an easier time during tests, when writing papers, and even just when reciting something from the text. This ease will take away some of the anxiety associated with accomplishing these tasks. Anxiety levels can also become lower because a student will be more inclined to pick a book that is at their reading level, not higher. When a book is above a student's reading level, the student will struggle to deep read and will create anxiety when trying to comprehend it (Jennifer and Ponniah, 2015, p. 3). So, it should be recommended to the student to read at their level when pleasure reading, and when the student takes on more daunting texts like the ones given in school, they will be better prepared and therefore less anxious when they are required to take a test, write a paper, or to perform a speech about these texts.

So, were our parents and teachers wrong to believe that pleasure reading makes you smarter? I don't think so. Yes, you do technically get smarter. Pleasure reading makes you better equipped to excel in academia, but I don't think we should focus on the getting smarter part of pleasure reading. From what I have learned and experienced, pleasure reading is much more important and influential for a person's well-being than for a person's intellect. Pleasure reading should be encouraged by parents and teachers, not just because it makes you smarter, but because it makes you a better person overall.

References
Jennifer, J., & Ponniah, R. (2015). Pleasure Reading Cures Readicide and Facilitates Academic Reading. Journal on English Language Teaching, 5(4), 1-5.

Venning, L. (2015). Why is Reading for Pleasure Important?. Retrieved from https://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog/why-is-reading-for-pleasure-important.html

Wilhelm, J. D., & Smith, M. W. (2016). The Power of Pleasure Reading: What We Can Learn From the Secret Reading Lives of Teens. English Journal, 105(6), 25-30.

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What are the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure?

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by Abigail Pineau Abigail is a nursing major living in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Abigail enjoys reading for pleasure, but before researching this essay she "never knew just how impactful it was." She said that after researching this subject it became "important for me that students and parents know just how impactful pleasure reading is."