Why reading is so important and what I learned from my favorite book

I love reading books. In fact, one of my 2017 resolutions was to read at least one book per month, which meant a minimum of 12 books a year (which is a success until now). I am extremely passionate about self-development books, they have a unique style to inspire me and probably a lot of people in the world. I started these books at the age of 13. Since then, I have never stopped being in love with them. Today, I will be giving some of the lessons I learned in the past years.

But first, I want to discuss the some benefits of reading for pleasure. When reading online about tips on how to be smarter, guess what pops instantly? Reading books. In this sense, I have been doing my research on answering why that is the case, and here are some interesting facts:

Reading improves focus and concentration

Unfortunately, nowadays it is extremely easy to get distracted. We have to keep an eye on so many different things, which eventually leads us to losing focus. Reading is one way to improve it.
“The moment I find it hard to concentrate, I just grab the book I’m currently reading”, says Paul Ashton, a manager from Bestessaytips. “It’s a wonderful tool, whenever I lose focus.”
When we need that concentration right away and it just doesn’t come that easy, reading is the ultimate solution. The way reading grabs our attention is a cure for our ability to focus and our concentration skills.

Reading enhances memory

When reading a book, one needs to remember an assortment of characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, histories, and nuances, as well as the various arcs and sub-plots that weave their way through every story. As a result, every new memory created forges new synapses (brain pathways) and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall.
Reading is a brain-stimulating activity and it has been proven to  stop cognitive decline
(such as preventing dementia and the Alzheimer). And it influences our brain while rapidly improving our memory.

Reading has an amazing positive effect on analytical skills

Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel and solved the mystery yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put your critical thinking skills to work by taking note of all the details provided and sorting them out to infer things by yourself. That same ability to analyze details comes in handy when it comes to critiquing the plot, determining whether it was a well-written piece, if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran smoothly, etc. Should you ever have an opportunity to discuss the book with others, you’ll be able to state your opinions clearly, as you’ve taken the time to really consider all the aspects involved. Even in real life, critical thinking skills are essential. Being able to solve problems given certain elements are a part of daily life – from finishing a project for work to figuring out how to navigate difficult relationships, possessing critical thinking skills are necessary in all walks of life.

Reading expands your vocabulary

This benefit seems trivial (and it is), but we tend to forget how important this is for the health of our brain. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary. The fact that you articulate well, speak with a good vocabulary gives more you more confidence as you speak, and that can only be beneficial. Moreover, this could be helpful when learning new languages. Indeed, if you read a book in a language that you are trying to learn, this will teach you new vocabulary, therefore making you better at speaking that language. 

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Back to specific books, the first one I read in terms of self-development , which is still until now my favorite one, is called: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (originally published in 1936).  This book is simply a master piece that teaches you everything you need to know about social skills. It taught me so much, and I use its lessons every single day of my life. 
(What is funny is that the first time I looked at the title of the book, I laughed and said "Come on, I have friends, I can make friends". This reaction is very common among people. A close family member then told me that this is the best book I'll ever read, and he could not be more right.)

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Lessons from How to Win Friends and Influence People

Do not condemn, and do not complain!

This is a very powerful message that the author starts the book with. Dale Carnegie tells us that, instead of condemning people, we should be understanding them. We should understand what motivated them to do a certain action. This is much better than criticising and condemning. He states: "God himself does not give a judgement to people before death. How dare we?"
We have all been in a situation where we either criticised or judging someone on his acts, then realising that we were all wrong. 
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain — and most fools do," Carnegie wrote. "But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving."

Praise others in an honest and sincere way

We should stop thinking about ourselves, our desires, what we want and what we need. Let's start thinking about the others; their desires, what they want and what they need in a very sincere and helpful way. 
"Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement," Carnegie wrote. Be lavish with praise, but only in a genuine way, he advised.
"Remember, we all crave appreciation and recognition, and will do almost anything to get it," he said. "But nobody wants insincerity. Nobody wants flattery."

Be interested in others, encourage them to talk about themselves

Think about those cute little dogs that come run to you when you go to guest's house. Those dogs did not read any single book, nor practised any of these principles I am describing, but somehow they make you feel welcomed and loved. 
If you want others to feel the same way around you, do like those dogs.  Forget yourself, think about others  because you will make more friends in two months being interested in others than in two years talking only about yourself.
Listening closely to someone "is one of the highest compliments we can pay anyone," Carnegie wrote.

Acknowledge your own mistakes

When we know we are right, we should share it in a respectful and humble way. However, when we are wrong, we should acknowledge our mistakes. Not only this will show better results for the relationship in question, but it is also much more entertaining then trying to justify ourselves.
"Admitting one's own mistakes — even when one hasn't corrected them — can help convince somebody to change his behavior," Carnegie wrote.

Do not try to "win" an argument

Even if you manage to tear apart someone else's argument, you don't actually achieve anything. Carnegie cited an old saying: "A man convinced against his will/Is of the same opinion still."
If you're looking to actually persuade somebody, avoid an argument in the first place, he said.

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I only gave a few lessons, the book itself shows exactly 30 lessons, or "principles" and I strongly advise everyone to have a look at them at least once in a lifetime.
I hope this motivates you to read the book because, as I said, it is a real master piece!