“The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” —Dr. Seuss
Over the last 9 months or so, I’ve been trying to read much more—fiction, nonfiction, self-help. I’ve become immersed in alternate realities, learned facts and opinions on historical events, and have changed my life based on concepts authors have written about. There is something meditative about reading—it calms the mind, brings presence, and induces relaxation.
Reading has shown many physical and mental health benefits, including reducing stress, slowing cognitive decline, improving sleep, and enhancing social skills. And apparently, it may lead to a longer life! A 2016 study by researchers from Yale University School of Public Health revealed that adults who reported reading books for more than 3.5 hours per week were over 20% less likely to die over 12 years of follow-up, compared with those who did not read books.
In honor of Black History Month, I challenge everyone to read a book written by a black author this month. Here are a few great reads to pick from:
- Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson
- Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi
- Such a Fun Age, by Kiley Reid
- Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America, by Charisse Jones
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, by Emmanuel Acho
- Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph, by Chad Sanders