Jokes aside, reading books is a great way to increase your brain power, improve your analytical skills, and can even increase your empathy because you’re privy to the characters’ emotions. Furthermore, people who read have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease because they’re keeping their brains active.

What’s more, reading’s a far better alternative than sitting in front of a glowing screen before bedtime. In other words, grab a book instead of your phone to sleep better. And if you want your kids to read more in the future, reading out loud to them has a very positive effect. Of course, this requires some additional effort from the parents themselves, but who doesn’t love story time?

However, there’s a difference between reading Harry Potter for the billionth time and picking up something from the classics for the very first time. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the adventures of The Boy Who Lived, but the classics greatly improve your vocab, social perception, and even emotional intelligence. What’s more, they’ll help you understand yourself in a deeper, more nuanced way. So grab one of the books that people ruined by adding a single word to the title, and read away!