Have you ever wondered what the benefits of reading are for you? If you are like most people this is not a question you ask yourself a lot.

Avid readers, however, will probably tell you that books are portals to knowledge, an avenue to a better life and a form of entertainment that exercises your imagination.

In addition to all of the above, scientific research has determined that reading helps reduce stress levels. In a study done at the University of Sussex, reading silently for six minutes helped to reduce stress by up to 68 percent.

Similarly, reading a book before going to bed can help you unwind so you can sleep. The only caveat here is don’t pick up a thriller you can’t put down as that will have the opposite effect.

Reading books can also help with comprehension and expand your vocabulary. Nowadays, the top selling eReaders include a built-in dictionary and so looking up the definition of a word is just a tap of the finger away.

In the Stories from the Golden Age collection of short stories by author L. Ron Hubbard, glossaries are included in the back of the book or via hyperlinks in the digital editions. The definitions for uncommon, cultural or historical terms are often hard to find in modern dictionaries. At the same time, however, these terms and phrases add unique flavor and authenticity to the tales and so understanding them helps the reader transpose themselves into the adventurous times and places envisioned.

Next week, September 6th, is National Read a Book Day. Celebrate it and do yourself some good by reading a book.