I bet you didn’t know that October was National Book Month, did you? The National Book Foundation established the first National Book Month in 2003. Every October, usually around mid-month, the National Book Awards also announce the best books and authors in the US that year. The month is a celebration of reading, writing, and books.
Books and reading can be beneficial to us mentally, physically, and academically. Reading strengthens the brain, increases empathy, helps build critical thinking, reduces cognitive decline, and can help reduce stress. When you read, you learn about places and people that you might not encounter otherwise, and you get to escape for a little bit into a whole new world.
Here are some ways to celebrate National Book Month.
Support your local indie bookstore. When you support your local independent bookstore, you’re supporting a small business, putting money back into your community, and adding to the culture of your area. Small bookstores can often place personalized orders, they get to know you and put books aside for you, and often have story times, community gatherings, author signings and events, and more. Why not buy a book or three this month, if you can?
Visit your local library. If you’re on a school campus, check out your school’s libraries. They often have a lot more than just school-related books. There are seminars, classes, research trainings, movies, music, and more. If you’re not on campus, head over to your local library to see what’s available. Even during the pandemic, you can check out their website and see what services they have – many have started to have curbside pickup if you want to check out books.
Re-read an old favorite. What was your favorite book growing up as a kid or teen? What is a book you loved but haven’t read in a while? Go re-read it! Re-reading books, especially at a different point in your life, can provide you with new ways of looking at the story and provide a deeper appreciation and understanding of it.
Read something you typically would not read. Okay, this one might be tricky for some of you. After all, getting out of our comfort zones can be hard. But we promise you, it’s worth it. If you don’t usually go for works in translation, pick one up! Try a new genre or a new series. Try something you think you would hate – you might be surprised. Read something that is about a topic with which you’re not familiar, or something you never thought you’d be interested in…so many books are out there and you never know what might change your life!
Write your book! If you’ve had a book brewing – whether it’s a dissertation-to-book project, or something completely new – now is a great time to start thinking about it. Dissertation Editor can help you with this process, from start to finish. Contact us today to learn more.
Even if you don’t have a book project just yet, Dissertation Editor is here to help with a variety of academic and professional challenges. We offer a range of services and would love to speak with you to create a personalized plan to help you reach your goals. Contact us today to get the conversation started!
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