How books shape minds and societies, building cognitive resilience and civic mindedness

Celebrated Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai has just been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature which casts a spotlight on the power of books, even as surveys show that fewer people are reading. Yet neuroscience is clear: reading is a mental workout that strengthens the brain. “It forges new neural pathways, generates new brain cells, and builds cognitive reserve,” says Grégoire Borst, Full Professor of Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience of Education at Université Paris Descartes. Fiction hones empathy and theory of mind, while nonfiction builds critical thinking and analytical depth. Reading activates working memory, sustained attention, and perspective-taking, skills vital for a flourishing democracy and social cohesion. Studies even link regular reading to reduced risks of depression, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Mr. Borst emphasizes that “reading on paper even leads to better memory retention than screens”.  He highly recommends reading to be integrated across all stages of education.