Does reading for fun make you smarter?

Answer 1

Yes they do. lern the language(i did that purposely)

I absolutely love the first answer LOL! but I'll throw a little extra info in.

Reading for extended periods of time stimulates certain cognitive and creative centers of the brain and literally "exercises" them and to a far greater extent then watching TV ever would. Cognitive is "understanding" and creative is brainstorming. Having good cognitive and creative abilities lets you recognize and find solutions to problems in everyday life. The old term "use it or lose it" is true: to keep your muscles and mind sharp you must exercise them.

At least I think so, I could be wrong. The gist of it is that reading a good novel or even an interesting magazine will help keep you sharp.

Reading gives you insight into how other people live and think, so that you can use ideas you've gained in practical life. My example (which may be out there to some) is that, in reading about people who lived in sod houses with dirt floors, I discovered the way to prevent dust blowing while sweeping. Sprinkle water on the area before sweeping. Also, I never could have done the traveling in real life that I have while being in the time and place of the books I read. China, Africa, England and other places will never be the same old same old that the geography books present.

Addendum:There is scientific evidence to prove this. The School Sisters of Notre Dame have been the subject of a lengthy study (15+ years) on aging and Alzheimer's. The sisters have submitted to examinations and analysis of every aspect of their lives, including genetic testing and daily tracking of behavior and activities. One common factor found among all of the very high functioning elderly sisters is that they read voraciously. Not only does this seem to help stave off Alzheimer's, it has a direct relation to their ability to recall vast amounts of information.

While reading may not be a cure for neurological diseases, it is definitely a preventative measure, with the added benefit of increase intelligence, or at least the information stored that the inate intelligence can bring to bear.

Answer 2

Here's a list:

• Reading makes you smarter by making you think about what you're reading
• Reading makes you smarter by increasing your vocabulary
• Reading makes you smarter by giving you information
• Reading makes you smarter by teaching you how to communicate effectively
• Reading makes you smarter by giving you new ideas and new ways of thinking