The Printed Page: There’s A Place For Reading Books In This Chaotic World

agebuzz subscribers have been telling us loud and clear over many years that reading books is an important part of their lives and their efforts to stay positive and engaged in their later years. Our posts on reading and book recommendations are among our most popular. A new study in the journal Psychological Medicine confirms what many already intuitively understand: That regularly diving into a good book can help your brain by improving your memory, your empathy, and even your mental health. As one expert explains, “Reading is like a cognitive workout.” Among older adults, regular reading has been associated with a lower risk for dementia and a slower decline in your cognition. And you don’t even need to read the most challenging new novels or the most intellectually rigorous works from previous centuries. In fact, there’s evidence that older readers do tend to experience a slowdown in their ability to read, which is often compensated for by sticking with familiar authors or book series, rather than challenging brand new works. But that’s fine. Because it’s more important to enjoy what you’re reading (and thus read longer) than feel you have to go through mental gymnastics just to finish a book. For one example of an older reader who challenges himself with his Bible or basic children’s works, take out your library card and look here.

But if you are up for a reading challenge, we have some suggestions for you. First, in a recent post in The New Yorker, Staff Writer Casey Cep shares some insights about what writer Barbara Kingsolver is looking forward to reading this fall, and also recommends Kingsolver’s own new book, Partita, a highly anticipated work that is due out next week. Or consider a new challenge described in a recent post in Big Think. There’s a stunning new wall poster (with a discount from Big Think) that contains photos of “The 100 Best Novels Of All Time” (or at least one person’s list of them). For each photo of the books listed, there’s a scratch-off opportunity to reveal a more beautiful photo underneath, once you finish that book. With more than 4 centuries’ worth of literature, arranged chronologically, you can work your way through an extraordinary compilation of novels and mark your progress on this poster. So get out your reading glasses and find out how you can decorate your wall (and work your brain) with this new list of best books.

If you want to combine your reading with your technology addiction, consider #BookTok, the TikTok site where millions of readers come together to learn everything a-z about books, reading, and staying connected through good literature. And if you’re looking for new romantic relationships that may connect you with another book lover, there’s a new dating app for you to check out: Readme is a new way to connect with like-minded readers, language lovers and literature fans. While you may see fewer older adults on this new app, you may just find that your love of books can bridge whatever distances separate you from another book lover.

Finally, for those of you who want to combine your love of reading with your lust for travel, Condé Nast Traveler has recently published posts on The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries and A Book Lover’s Guide to the World’s Most Literary Hotels. Combining books and travel? It’s every book lover’s dream and a worthwhile goal to set your mind (and budget) to. Happy Reading!