Of course, readers are smarter. But more active? Yet that’s the finding of a new study.
While America’s literary sloth is no secret, the latest NEA research adds an interesting twist to that painful demographic fact. To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consquence is the 99-page study released by the National Endowment for the Arts as a follow-up to their 2004 NEA, “Reading at Risk,” which found vast numbers of adult Americans were not reading even one book a year.
After iterating the continued decline of readers and the extent of sources that corroborate the findings, these interesting observations were made:
The report emphasizes the social benefits of reading: ‘Literary readers’ are more likely to exercise, visit art museums, keep up with current events, vote in presidential elections and perform volunteer work.
‘This should explode the notion that reading is somehow a passive activity,’ [NEA chairman Dana] Gioia said, ‘. . .People who don’t read, who spend more of their time watching TV or on the Internet, playing video games, seem to be significantly more passive.’
I recently floated this idea at a family gathering — that “Reading creates people who are more active by any measure” — and, as expected, it was met with skepticism. After all, how can something that is a sedentary venture (reading), stimulate physical activity?
This illustrates some common, but long-held, misconceptions non-readers have, namely that reading equals inactivity, and that exercising the mind has no connectivity to the condition of the body or one’s social life. How often are readers portrayed as aloof, socially dysfunctional, big-bottomed nerds? Okay, maybe the “big-bottomed nerds” part is right. Yet, according to this study, readers develop internal mechanisms that make them far more healthy, active, and socially aware, than non-readers. The third grader who wants to read a book at recess may, in the end, be better off than the boys on the monkey bars.
This confirms something I’ve believed for a while: The discipline of reading, and its correlated functions of logic, concentration, linear thought, and conceptual stimulation, is THE most important skill an individual can cultivate. Developing the ability to manage ideas, stir imagination, and hone critical thinking, affects lots more than just the old noodle. And now, I’m off to jog. . .
Hey…you’re not really jogging, are you? This is interesting, Mike. I wonder how much money it cost to uncover this revelation? I think some bibliophile like you or me headed up the study in hopes of alleviating the guilt he feels about his many hours slumped in bed or a recliner, nose in book. I liked the post and the study results, but I’ll probably still always feel like a slug for all the time I spend reading. However, I agree with you whole-heartedly. I home school my 2nd and 3rd grade daughters, and the truth is, you don’t always cover every single as extensively as you think you should. But I try to remember above all to teach them to love reading. If I can get them to fall in love with books, they will be life-long learners. Okay, I’m off to…er…jog too.
I love this theory.
Huh. Wonders never cease.
Of course the only people who know all this are readers.
I think this is true.
It takes more work to read than it does to watch tv, obviously.
The people who are willing to do the work of reading are also likely to do the work of keeping up with current events, voting, exercising, doing yard work, cleaning the house, walking the dog, going to museums, and others.
Maybe all of these aren’t true?
I wonder if readers’ houses are generally cleaner than non-readers’ houses.
Janet, I also wondered about the objectivity of the study, but there appears to be reams of data that corroborates the findings. Of course, there are plenty of “exceptions to the rule” — readers who are “passive” and TV watchers who are not. My experience with those who love books tends to support the conclusions of this research: I personally find readers more excited about ideas, more willing to explore them, and possessing a genuine hunger to expand their learning and imagination, something that infuses their personality. (But are you suggesting I used the jogging reference as a comic ploy? Why, Lisa pushes me around the block in my wheelchair whenever I ask.) Thanks for your comments, Janet!
I agree about readers being excited about ideas. I’d like to see what percentage of those reading are creative (artistic) types, the kind of people who are continually being inspired by things that spark them to create something of their own. I just got home from my 16-year-old’s high school band concert. They played a really cool piece that was excerpts from Johan De Meij’s Lord of the Rings symphony. The director was quick to clarify that this was not music from the movies, but music that was from Johan’s mind, that he wrote will reading the books! It was cool music too.
Uh, readers clean house? Not this reader.
Being a future english teacher an avid reader myself I whole heartedly believe literature is an important tool in bettering oneself.
As far as the articles concerned I don’t know that I would say a reader is someone is more likely to be a *physically* active person. But I do believe that readers tend to be more active in the world as far as political, social, and emotional issues are concerned. And I think it should become a known fact that most readers are people who enjoy learning and look to grow in their knowledge.
A person who reads, who truly enjoys the reading endeavor is a person who likes to engage, because to read you must dig into the book, pursue the storyline and remain loyal until the last page. The qualities necessary to be an active reader I believe make people more apt to be active in experiencing life, versus staying within their comfortable realms.
Chris, you were doing good until you veered into the “cleaning house” category. A person who is mentally and physically active may or may not tolerate clutter. But a clean house is hardly indicative of a well-oiled brain. I think your own room is proof of the error of your assertion. 😉