Reading for pleasure is akin to unlocking a hidden treasure

Paradoxical as it may sound, reading habit in modern India seems to be following the global trend, which has been showing a downward curve. Yet, book fairs in India have constantly highlighted how ‘year on year sales have increased’, niche publications have received ‘very encouraging support’ and a very high percentage of visitors thronging the venues are young men and women.

The UK-based National Literacy Trust, in its recent findings, highlight that that reading enjoyment among children and teens has touched historic lows over the past decade, though this year’s initiatives are trying to spark a modest revival in specific age brackets. In a way, the reasons are on quite predictable lines. It has been found that reading for fun usually drops sharply around middle school (ages 9–14 years) as school texts become harder and screen distractions increase. Teenage boys consistently report lower rates of daily reading for pleasure compared to girls.

Digital distractions in the form of Smartphones, social media apps, and video games offer instant rewards that crowd out long-form reading. Then comes the ubiquitous academic pressure as heavy school workloads, extracurriculars and test preparations leave students with little or no energy or time to catch up on leisure reading.

Reduced access is another major drawback as school libraries with outdated collections and a lack of relatable reading materials make books feel unengaging. In this mixed milieu, some findings reported by a news agency strongly emphasise how reading for pleasure is a win-win for both the readers and the community.

In a study of more than 10,000 young people, it was found that children who began reading for pleasure in life showed several benefits, including better attention, memory, and executive functioning, greater academic achievement, fewer mental health problems, and healthier lifestyles like more sleep and less screen time.

Experts draw on subjective surveys and objective studies using longitudinal, neuro-imaging, and behavioural methods to highlight converging findings that link reading engagement with improved brain and mental health, better cognitive performance, and reduced risk of cognitive decline.

Shared reading groups and book clubs appear to provide additional benefits through social interaction. They can help people feel less isolated and more connected to others, which has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia,” they concluded.

In this era of AI, where authors spring up from nowhere, books continue to be written and published because people continue to read and be entertained and inspired. Reading is one of the healthiest entertainments a man or woman can enjoy. Quite often, media reports have highlighted how Gen Z has dared to go retro and open book clubs and conduct book-reading sessions for a dedicated group of book lovers.

Many metros have also had public spaces converted into book-reading arenas where people converge, carry a book of their choice along and sit and read in a natural, pristine setting. The favourite spots seem to be public parks and community centres.

The secret of success in this case would be to have a wider collection of themes and stories, written for a younger audience which seeks instant gratification if the popular perception is to be believed, in a language which stimulates their inner thoughts and excites them to stay bound to the activity. Today’s knowledge era needs to be mindful of this and move accordingly.

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The Hans India