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With all of the activites and gadgets that take up our free time these days, it's easy to forget about a pastime that people use to appreciate: reading. In our technology driven society where mp3 players, TV, movies, video games and all kinds of other things seem to be more relevant and exciting reading books may seem quaint or even outmoded to some. However, reading is still very importance and is one of the very best ways to get information, to learn new things and to educate yourself. What separates reading from the newer activites? Reading is one of the few pastimes that can increase your intelligence because of the effect that it has on the brain. If you have children, this is very important as they will do better in school and in college if they enjoy reading. Parents who read to their young children and encourage reading in their older children tend to have smarter children. Who doesn't want that?

While reading your mind has to produce it's own imagery and it has to fill in the blanks, so to speak. This is true whether you are reading fiction or non-fiction. This work exercises the brain, increases the use of imagination, enhances the memory and increases your knowledge, depending on what you're reading. This doesn't mean that you can't learn things by watching TV or surfing the web, but in these newer mediums, you are presented with much of the information and imagery that you would have to produce on your own if reading.

Studies have shown time and again that you don't have to think very much when watching TV no matter what type of programming you are watching. People think far more while reading. This is the reason why many people say that reading encourages critical thinking. "But I don't like reading!", you might say. Many people feel this way and no one is saying that you have to sit down and read The Brothers Karamazov or War and Peace. No one is saying you have to read for long periods of time either. But in order to help your own critical thinking faculties and to increase your own knowledge it is important to read something on a regular basis; build it into your life as a habit. You will be far better off with this kind of habit. Unlike smoking, it adds something to your life instead of taking anything way from it.

So, how do you build reading into your daily life? If you aren't an avid reader already then you'll want to build this habit in small steps. You don't just jump up and run a marathon if you've never done much in the way of exercise

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