how does reading newspapers and books make you smarter?

Answer 1

How do reading newspapers and books make you smarter, you ask? Why, by reading books, you not only improve your grammar and vocabulary, you learn to see the world and history through the perspectives of the authors, therefor improving your own perspective. You learn to associate with others on a more intelligent level, you learn to converse and you learn to learn.

With newspapers, you learn about current events and how to check for spelling errors (haha). You learn about local, national, and global events in almost-real time. You improve your knowledge of current events and can then associate better with the politics, legalities, and trivial goings on that may or may not effect your life.

By reading both, you broaden your horizons, improving your potential to relate to the world in a productive manner. You are more likely to become educated by life.

Answer 2

Great answers above, I completely agree with everybody. I used to be an avid reader all my life, then several years ago due to changes in career and personal life I stopped reading books almost entirely. I can definetely say that my vocabulary and knowledge became poorer - I do struggle searching for the right word or remembering a certain fact, while several years ago I could get any Jeopardy question. Moreover, I can feel that my mind is not so sharp as it used to be, for instance,in solving math problems. Thus, do read if you can - benefits are enormous!

Answer 3

Information is the basis for all decisions- the more you know, the better you can evaluate a situation and come to a better conclusion. This is true whether you are talking about football, business, religion, politics or space exploration.
Reading may not make you any smarter but it can make you LOOK smarter by being able to discuss things with a broader range of information.

Answer 4

Educate comes from the Greek word Educo which means to draw from within. No one can give you an education. It's something you draw from within yourself.

You can use tools, like schools, books and newspapers to facilitate that education.

As you \edify yourself by reading more than the comics, you literally expand your mind and form new synapses, memories and thought interconnections. That in turn is what being "smart" is all about. It's not merely the collection of facts, but the ability think.

Answer 5

They might not make you smarter, but they will increase your vocabulary, and newspapers will educate you on current events

Answer 6

It doesn't necessarily. It does however depending on what you read. If you read Maxim magazine and the sports section you're not exactly exercising higher thought. Try starting out by reading some philosophy or classically celebrated novels.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Must-Read-Classics/lm/2ZBD39D3Q8BZN

This is also a great entry level philosophy book:

http://www.amazon.com/Consolations-Philosophy-Alain-Botton/dp/0679779175/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5138902-1835845?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187588088&sr=8-1

Answer 7

I have heard that ; a person who reads the news paper every day for his/her life can amass an amount of knowledge to equal a Masters degree or better and actually raises your IQ in doing so.

Answer 8

Infinity 1 gave an excellent answer ... and I agree. My daughter and I make a game of looking for typo's in the paper. If you read a lot, you KNOW a lot!

Answer 9

Aside from increasing your vocabulary and reading speed and improving your spelling and grammar skills, reading challenging and engaging material can encourage your mind to analyze concepts you're not previously familiar with.

Answer 10

It doesn't make you 'smarter'; it makes you more educated.