Why reading matters | Rita Carter | TEDxCluj

Speaking is already in our genes. But reading is not. Until about 100 years ago most people didn't do it all. When we read fiction especially, we create new pathways in our brain. Reading 30 pages of fiction every night, gets the pathways thicker and thicker. Our brain needs a workout just like our body.
Rita Carter is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who specializes in the workings of the human brain. Her books include the first layman’s guide to neuroscience: Mapping the Mind, which has been translated into 14 languages. For seven years she presented London’s nightly news programme, “Thames News” , and has written for magazines and newspapers throughout the world, including the London Times, Telegraph, Guardian and New Scientist. She has a deep interest in bringing art and science together and is a Patron at the influential London-based Foundation “Art and Mind”. Rita Carter is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who specializes in the workings of the human brain. Her books include the first layman’s guide to neuroscience: Mapping the Mind, which has been translated into 14 languages. For seven years she presented London’s nightly news programme, “Thames News” , and has written for magazines and newspapers throughout the world, including the London Times, Telegraph, Guardian and New Scientist. She has won many awards for her work, including, on three occasions, the Medical Journalists Association award for excellence and she holds an Honorary PhD in Brain science from Leuven University - one of Europe’s oldest academic institutions This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@MosesRabuka]

“One glance at a book and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you” ~ Carl Sagan

[@waikhuenhoh8823]

Beautiful quote

[@lostdapack]

That's a dope way to think about it

[@sr2291]

Gotta read Carl Sagans books.

[@ALLIN-dc5my]

You are everywhere bro

[@jimenaandrade8109]

😊

[@TheDrewmagoo]

My Dad once said to me that you are never wasting your time when you are reading a good book

[@mr.mcclinton7679]

Your Dad sounds like a very wise man!

[@amaanshakoor8664]

Sammmmmmeeeeee

[@hewadkhan107]

Wow !

[@EddieLA78]

Great Dad!

[@thesaint230]

Finding a good book sometimes can be challenging ..

[@samrose3205]

I used to read a lot more than I do now. But I have become distracted by my mobile phone a lot more these days and waste so much time on useless information. Time to pick up a book again

[@zuhrazozo3047]

Same with me! I just used to read more but now they can't seem to be with me

[@maqsoodahmedkazi6604]

SAAAAAAME

[@noahprieto4048]

I make time for both but that’s only cuz I like to read. I never over read books and there has been times to where I don’t read. It’s just I know that feeling haha

[@13vlee]

Same!!! There’s also Netflix and all those streaming services that just make it so easy to choose watching shows/ movies over picking up a book.. same thing with social media, it’s so easy to get sucked into mindless scrolling. I made a goal to read 24 books this year and hoping I can stick to it :)

[@Thiva97]

@@13vlee all the best!

[@ellabrr2450]

I never realized that there is a countdown running while they speak. That must put people under so much pressure

[@Fersko]

thought about the same thing xD

[@clementello]

They have to audition their talk and rehearse it a lot, so they're probably used to it by the time they see the clock here

[@tobiasdontmatter1868]

yeah it’s funny, cuz back in highschool a countdown was something we couldnt wait for. These guys dread the moment lol

[@kelviannaepperson3677]

Reading fiction helps me to reflect on life and related to others getting to know more about myself

[@Liusila]

kelvianna epperson Although movies have the same effect. Even some video games.

[@paradisejinx8497]

Liusila not true

[@kamalpreetsingh1686]

@@Liusila movies are cheap source of entertainment dear.....

[@mstwelvedeadlycyns]

I heard about that empathy benefit!

[@LDillon]

@@Liusila Absolutely correct. 2 people in this comment thread seem not to appreciate the importance of film (and of course, to an even greater extent, well-constructed narrative videogames)

[@BillyReedMusic]

Wow. I feel better about reading fiction again. I had come to believe it was unproductive, except for feeding the imagination and priming the mind for writing. This is great. I'm so glad she gave this talk. I'm going to read more fiction again, and feel great about it!!!! 😄📚

[@17ForLuck]

fiction actually teaches us the most expecting the unexpecting making us more prepared for random stuff

[@divyabksunar1986]

caN u give me some recommendation?

[@BillyReedMusic]

@@divyabksunar1986 Sure... A Clockwork Orange is great read.

[@makemoneymorawski2752]

@@divyabksunar1986 the dune series is phenomenal as well if you like science fiction

[@danielschorr2836]

@@divyabksunar1986 Dune, no doubt about it. It teaches you more than the best self-improvement books.

[@aislingrvr]

'Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body'

[@antiquarian1773]

I always have felt a feeling of guilt for not reading books, When I did read books I remember strongly the feelings I felt while reading and how good i felt after finishing reading. I realized how important reading is for the brain and wished I did it much more when growing up.

[@lucasvieiraaraujo4788]

There's still time, dude. Choose a title that interests you and embrace its journey.

[@rajatshukla2605]

Same here man. I know I love to read but do it very less . I would rather play video games or movies than read a book . Not to say either is bad .every time I read a book i feel such strong emotions and also get to think from new perspectives. Hope you are reading these days

[@PowerShellNoob]

Nothing feels better than finishing that last sentence and slamming the book shut with a sense of accomplishment. I remember when I first started reading again after not reading for pleasure since I was a kid, I felt like my speech improved, I can think more clearly, I felt like a more well-rounded person.

[@yapchunglabhutia9000]

i grew up in a very strict orthodox christian family, we didn't have television or any digital objects in our home. Reading books was prohibited. My uncle once tore a copy of Harry Potter: Half blood prince because I was reading it sneaking the copy from the school library. Now as I am growing up and learning more i realised they were actually all bound by limited thoughts due to lack of a different perspective and imagination. My life changed after I started reading more and more, even as I do now It sets me completely free of the cage that I still carry around. I am a flawed human who finds solace in Music and Books, And I know I am not the only one. Keep reading humans!

[@tme98]

Religion is filled with fundamentalists. It is terrible to say the least, they don’t wish that you expand your knowledge. I’m glad you were able to read later.

[@ava165]

I’m glad my mom let me read Harry Potter. I’m catholic but I’ve been raised with a good balance of my religion and fantasy and fiction

[@Zellymackintosh]

The beauty of it is that it fueled your curiosity to degrees unimaginable to the regular joe shmo who can careless about reading books

[@39Thorns]

I'm Orthodox Christian, I've never heard of anyone prohibiting reading, this is very strange. Maybe old-believer sect?

[@katrinophalvens1292]

I hope you can get rid of the cage and get a full life, also outside books. Books were my savior once, now I like to read and to live. Oh, and there are techniques that help, I like EFT and bodywork.

[@sangampunmagar5851]

I just discovered this video. It's been 3 months since I began to read books. I've finished reading 3 books. As she said, Books help to decrease anxiety, and we can learn from others'/writers perspectives so we can feel the same. As it has its scientific explanation, I can feel the change in what I've become presently.

[@totochanel2251]

For me reading a book is like meditation, so relaxing 🥰

[@secretAgentRandyBeans11]

Reading fictional books is like living many lives inside one life. Such richness of experience

[@thiagooliveira1482]

I've forced myself to read for 21 followed days when I was teenager and It was the best thing I did... Nowadays I do not stop anymore... I read 1 book per month *_*

[@suejahsuejahlee7001]

Consider reading as the way to polish one's soul

[@rogerpiotr6977]

More like categorizing data in your mind souls is more about reflection on surrounding and others while books seem to improve expression ability of how your souls feel

[@fatboy326]

I’ve always said I’ve felt like I’ve lived so many lives because of the experiences I got from reading different books. It’s so incredible to hear that this is showing to actually be happening in my brain! I really feel like so many people are missing out on this magical pill. It’s something you can’t get from anything other than fiction.

[@KimsLantern]

Reading forces you to use your imagination. I love that.

[@Dandelions4317]

Being a book lover since schools, I am here to confirm that she is 200 percent correct.. When all over the world , I feel stress , I read fictions for a skip and that really helps me keep motivating, learning to survive and keep going. I love reading everything including knowledge books, science, fiction , self help and even some kind of fanfictions too 😅 and I feel happy that I enjoy it more than anything.

[@SarahScofield94941]

Are you on goodreads? I'd like to follow you there if you are, in order to be more inspired to read. 😊

[@marykay8587]

I'm envious of parents who read to their kids, I only recall one time in my childhood when my mom read to me, I now make sure to read to my girl every night...3 books at least and she loves it 🥰

[@hello5007]

That is SO lovely that yo do that. Yes, my parents NEVER read to me either.

[@osman2540]

my god this lady can execute a presentation she needs to be rewarded for this someone get her a good fiction book

[@XnonTheGodd]

She has written a book called "The Human Brain". It's beautiful, everyone should read it

[@swamuelc6691]

her final words made me cry, what a beatiful message.

[@gabrielcardenas3337]

What final words made you cry?

[@mstwelvedeadlycyns]

This is why I am so angry that certain books are being banned for the content as a form of sugar coating and canceling culture. Another form of dumbing down society. Reading is life! 📚📚📚📚

[@nicyfrancis269]

Reading puts you to the shoes of character and makes you feel the emotions akin to the character. It helps to improve empathy to the members of community .Hence work miracles in terms of EQ of the society

[@bangtan_moonchild]

Reading fiction is so much fun. I've been reading ever since I learnt how to and I never lost my love for it. It's fascinating to see a (fictional) person's life through their eyes, live through their experiences and see their perspective on subjects.

[@alibeaumont-filder3185]

Wonderful to have it reinforced . Recall studying this 20 yrs ago . Yet for whatever reason have forgotten the importance of it these last few years . Thank you for lighting up the lightbulb again .

[@Mr.Gratitude]

So amazing. Didn't know that. In the last 10 years so focused on reading just self development books, my Lord, thanks God I found this. And intuitively I always knew reading fiction helps.

[@lifeisbeautiful4915]

I was a hard core non fiction reader until I came across this video. Thanks for change and improvement @Rita Carter 🙏

[@knolunger]

6:13 She didn't talk about how reading helped a person save his/her life, which she told that she would speak at the end..but it's understandable that she was out of time. All in all, a great talk

[@misss9092]

I’ve always love reading because I feel as though I’ve been transported to another world. Sadly, there’s not that many people who feel the same. Tell someone you studied English Literature at Uni, first thing people say is, what can you do with it?

[@ThePrettyMommyCEO]

I absolutely feel this way. ❤️

[@light9430]

Ah, I understand the feeling. Reading is such a powerful tool to escape reality and experience new things. And to those people who ask "What can you do with it?" after learning you studied English Literature, here's a great answer: "Well, with my love of literature and strong writing and critical analysis skills, I can write compelling content, analyze and evaluate different forms of media, understand and articulate complex ideas, and even work in fields like publishing, journalism, marketing, and more." See, the possibilities are endless!

[@bonchatbonrat]

If you read enough you’ll find that you are very much not alone in that thinking and that people have been feeling this way for thousands of years. That’s the point, to be transported, learn something new, get in to someone else’s mind and empathise.

[@linustrate6763]

@@light9430 Exactly. The escapism and the experiential benefits of reading/literature are sure outstanding. The analytical and critical thinking skills are also a huge plus that allows one to see the world or things beyond one's own scope--and hopefully find his place. It's also somewhat alienating and lonesome as you experience new perspectives and measured clarity. You find yourself in sharp contrast with the world especially in these times, not that you see yourself as any better than those who do read in some capacity or don't. As a result, some return to the academic environment to cope. It's just more fun and enjoyable meeting or seeing people who share your taste.

[@Lost_Literature]

Beautifully put,

[@user-im2df4dh1l]

What is more important than reading is to understand what you are reading, I have read hundreds of books, sometimes life hits you so hard that you forget them all.

[@maureenkosgei3430]

I love traveling through the fictional stories and bringing the mentioned characters into life in my mind while reading. Very insightful 💯

[@vanndethpheou4022]

I really love reading so much. I can not live without reading. Thank you❤️😊📚📚📚

[@HettyPatel]

I LOVE READING idek why I am here. LOL I don't need no inspiration I just like watching these i guess lol

[@williamgiovinazzo8523]

I would be interested in hearing about the differences in the brain between reading and listening to a book.

[@user-ij9uk8tn8i]

Me too. And the difference between reading a book and watching a TED talk!

[@clarenceoliveriii]

Me too💯

[@MadHatter1337]

Visually reading is more stimulating as it requires more focus and your brain processes the information to a greater degree. Plus you get learn how to spell the words! 🤓🤓 I’ve tried audiobooks and they just don’t stimulate my brain the same

[@atharvadeshpande4113]

Well said maam , hats off, Your teachings will make more readers ...

[@sonderexpeditions]

Awesome! Im reading 30 books this year ❤

[@yotammbao7534]

Did you do it?

[@vaibjsjd]

Just take it slow, it's just a suggestion, Quality matters over Quantity.

[@HarshShah465]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: [00:40] 💡 Fiction is pleasurable and can improve your imagination, memory, personal relationships, and make you a nicer person. [01:11] 🧠 Reading fiction helps you to understand the thoughts and feelings of others by taking you inside the character's perspective. [02:41] 🤝 Reading fiction helps to develop Theory of Mind, which is the ability to see from the way a person is moving or expressing themselves what is going on in their head. [04:16] ✨ Reading fiction can have a profound impact on your life, even saving lives. [06:16] 🧠 Reading fiction creates new pathways in the brain, which can improve cognitive function and empathy. [08:37] 🧠 Reading is a more holistic experience than speaking, as it forces us to use parts of the brain that are not usually used. [09:36] 🤝 When we read about someone doing something, the same parts of our brain that would be active if we were doing it ourselves become active. [10:35] ✨ Reading is not just learning what's going on in another person's head, but also experiencing it. [11:06] 💡 Researchers have found that reading fiction can make us more sensitive to other people's feelings. [12:39] 🧠 Reading fiction can create new and thicker connections in the brain, all over the brain, not just in the language areas. Made with HARPA AI

[@sharonirungu2092]

This was so insightful. Thank you for sharing!

[@vivioraise2125]

Very well said! Me too I don't read at all but when I find the books that I love to read so now I'm hook 😍😍😍

[@IoviService]

Ideas worth spReading and books worth reading!

[@serano5023]

Great message! 👍🏻

[@cyrusjohnarnaiz1478]

I have concluded that reading is your ultimate guide in life.

[@adarshagrawal5383]

These tips seem very practical and effective

[@santoshkumar-go5mm]

Books give Life experiences and knowledge of others life .You have one Life. By reading books you can live many lifes.

[@Sullenpotato]

Beautiful , Sir ✨

[@wolfe_so_random3568]

I thank booktok influencers for inspiring me to read! I enjoyed reading and tabbing now❤️✨

[@Shiraz687]

A house without a book is like body without a soul.

[@lucasguimaraespacheco9630]

I know excellent people don't read. I absolutely love reading but i don't think the rest of the world needs to be readers as well. I agree it's necessary spread the importance of the books but without judging those who doesn't think the same.

[@Shiraz687]

@@lucasguimaraespacheco9630 True

[@florina2018]

I love to read books even there are not just fictions. Sometimes I read them so quickly, other times so slowly, but regardless how many I read books I feel it's necessary to make a little pause between those... to see what that book who I just finished really make me think, feel, see, change, discover, understand. Thank you very much! 🌻🤗✨🎈❤☯

[@arr2820]

I always need that pause between reading different books.

[@ayshiaarmani]

So glad I came across this! will definitely start reading more fiction

[@krsathya]

Fantasic! Much needed habit in the current digital era.

[@keirstenwahlberg6476]

When I read a character in pain it's like I feel it myself--whether it be physical or emotional.

[@hectorvaldez542]

Not many people watched this video compared to others because they don’t want to face the fact that they don’t read

[@TheVMbros]

Some people are just not interested in helping themselves because it is too much work. I even read the subtitles while watching this talk haha

[@phuccaoo]

Is reading a way to improve your focus? Like meditation?

[@petkoelenkin5713]

Absolutely. But remember to read actively and critically if you want to be enriched.

[@ThePeterBLloyd]

Thanks Rita, now I have a good excuse to take time out to finish reading Robert Musil's huge books ...

[@shreyankpatel2591]

This was so insightful.

[@KR-dk3eb]

I enjoy reading alot, but I was confused which books to read- knowledgeable or fictional. Though, I always loved reading story books but still felt that maybe other learning books could be beneficial. Now I know the answer- fictional!🙃 Thank you Rita!👍

[@watercoloracademy1083]

Fascinating

[@deathwarmedup73]

reading a good page-turner is also a remarkably effective cure for loneliness in my experience, and there's plenty for free at your library.

[@gracegg5485]

you have my intrest

[@nou257]

i stopped being interested in reading fiction because it keeps making me want to live in my own fantasy creating my own alternate reality in my head so i prefer reading nonfiction where i can learn something more factual. i know the benefits of reading fiction but it really just in some way make me feel too attached to my own fake world than being in touched with reality

[@futurez12]

I know exactly what you mean! I pine for that fantasy world and start to resent the real world; I'm not sure that's healthy. I feel the same when I watch a really good TV show. I know some people say that you shouldn't fill your head with magic, and I think there's genuinely something in that. Maybe you'll be a nicer person if you read lots of fiction, but being nice doesn't really help you in a dog eat dog world, which, unfortunately, is the real world we live in. ☹ That said, if there's a cognitive benefit then it can't be that bad, but maybe you get a similar benefit from more educational non-fiction books.

[@tiffanyanthony7189]

I prefer facts too.

[@anitamonjok7463]

I agree with you .

[@vaibjsjd]

I agree with you on that yes she was right on reading but her over emphasis on reading fiction is something I don't agree with it could have been better if she stayed with reding only but I guess that's her opinion and we are free to have our own personally I find reading non fiction or educational books help me equally well in comparison with fiction or storytelling novels.

[@amaanshakoor8664]

... A reader is a writer ...A writer is a persuader ...A persuader forms a good society

[@alexanderwatson3824]

what?

[@jacobm7762]

exTREMEly interesting

[@amypeters4025]

Okay, no spoiler alert warning for Wuthering Heights? --I read a book called Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf, and I recommend it if anyone watching finds this topic fascinating and you want to geek out on it a bit more.

[@ifrasohail569]

Indeed a reader live thousand lives

[@tawhidibnwahid4825]

Thanks a lot ma'am.

[@anupamsengupta1304]

This video should get more views.

[@zacharypitcher9297]

quite interesting

[@TheIrishBosnian]

I began reading The Witcher series. The amount of words im learning from this is crazy. You cant go wrong with increasing the oul vocabulary.

[@tysoncheah6977]

Exactly, I haven't read the book though, I play witcher 3 and learn a lot of vocabulary just reading the letter.

[@nadivard1537]

No wonder why first ayah that came to human in my religion is “iqra..” (its mean reads | arabic language) masyaaAllah now i know why n how. Thankyou for this delightfull science, i would more greatfull n mindfullnes in live i choose. ❤

[@TerryMinorJr]

Reading is highly underrated.

[@evanwalker6397]

Trying to get my 10 year old to get into reading is like pulling teeth. It’s strange because both myself and his mom are avid readers. I use to love reading the Fear Street series by RL Stein when I was younger.

[@nerealandaluze5510]

Sooooo interesting😍😍

[@user-pd7cd8om2k]

Reading make me understand new things better

[@missjenny1953]

Has any research been done on the difference between reading and audio books?

[@newstargreat]

I do enjoy this Interesting speech :)

[@rosetyler8292]

this makes me feel better about clutching onto ao3 as a lifeline

[@TheJohnCube]

Utterly interesting

[@ava165]

Man I love reading

[@jacobm7762]

imMENSEly interesting

[@dulcerubio4258]

Interesting

[@peterreed9566]

I'll start by saying that I absolutely love reading but I rarely if ever read fiction (much to my wife's disappointment). I last read fiction regularly back in the 1980's when I was at school (I'm 59 now). My issue with fiction is that as the characters don't exist I can't get invested in them and/or what happens to them...because in the bigger picture it just doesn't matter. My wife thinks this is partially because I am totally unable to visualise or form word pictures in my mind. And I've never ever found myself becoming lost in a story. It's for the reasons mentioned above that I also don't watch movies. When I occasionally do read fiction it annoys my wife that I always read the last chapter first and if I like the ending I'll put the time and effort in to reading the rest of the book. I now do read fiction but this is limited to reading to my grandchildren. I want them to grow up with a love of reading but without my prejudice against fiction. My wife said if I read fiction more I'd get a better understanding of the world from being other peoples' perspective, which she believes would improve my empathy, emotional intelligence and understanding of self. But being honest I don't have any desire to do this. Currently I'm reading three books (all none fiction): one is a Cypriot cook book, another is about Nelson Mandela and the last is travel log written by a guy who walked the breath of Europe. In closing you might think I believe reading fiction is a waste of time...far from it...if you love reading fiction it could never be considered to be a waste of time. Enjoy...

[@mavisesdalgasi]

Our translation professor is making us watch this video

[@nathanaelsegura2535]

7:09 different between reading and speaking; reading has to be taught how to do it. 9:14 reading is a very different kettle fish 10:06 12:00 13:42

[@nathanielcarrasco5622]

amAZINGly interesting

[@DharmendraRaiMindMap]

I feel the need the need to read

[@danielyela5332]

Thanks u 🎉

[@bonfacemacharia7388]

Reading books is a game changer.

[@nupurahire4704]

Now I know what to tell my mom when she asks me to read "something useful" like "101 interesting math questions" or something like that

[@justdoit2377]

"Nothing happens unless first a dream " - CARL SANDBURG

[@noah2333]

Really good

[@aestheticheart660]

Its nice to see every ted talk with no dislikes.

[@canary_lemn4147]

I used to hate reading. Whenever my parents tell me to read more books, I roll my eyes. But then one day, I decided to watch beauty and the beast. Then after the movie ended, I ran off to find books. But then I realized that my dad's books are about gangsters, guns, skeletons, etc. And I've red all my fairytale books about 49 times already. The only annoyance in reading is finding a perfect book to read.😒😂

[@jackarm356]

The only way I can get through books now is by turning my phone off and going straight to the library with my kindle, with white noise playing through my headphones. I can read for hours in the library as there's no distractions, at home about 5 minutes max.

[@binayakbhattarai10]

Not to take away anything from this good video, but does it mean we should be very selective while choosing a book to read? Because if our brain actually lives the experiences of the characters in the book, could it not have negative impact on our well being?

[@ninaaparre8929]

Then that's where our rational thinking comes in. We should weigh the teachings well from what we have read and decide if we should apply it or not. It's better to expose yourself to different perspectives than selecting a certain genre, reading is never a waste of time afterall as long as this have instilled something in you.

[@zenawhitworth78]

Reading is Life

[@lubna.candid]

Nice ❤

[@redrum6619]

Do audio books count ? Or is it more effective to read a physical book ? And if it’s more effective to reas a physical book, is it the same when reading it on an iPad or a Kindle book(which this easier on the eyes)

[@mikeselldigitalconsulting3847]

Does it make a difference fi you read or listen to a story? I see more people listening to books as opposed to actually reading them. I wonder if you have thoughts about that. regards,

[@SpeedTalkNew]

yes A few months ago. I used to be at a bookshop in Lagos Nigeria .as it is my habit I started picking out an entire lot of books and after I and therefore the friend I went with had taken out numerous books. the bookseller who was obviously surprised by what percentage of books I'm buying?@t

[@jamesag4135]

Very good for neuroplasticity.

[@youtuber5305]

This 2023 article may be of interest: "Can it be Possible that Something as Basic as Reading is Going into Decline?"

[@mayindlovu5874]

Fire