I was thinking recently about how much our relationship with reading has changed. There was a time when picking up a book was simply something we did because we enjoyed it. We found a story that interested us, settled into a comfortable spot, and allowed ourselves to get lost in another world for a little while. We weren't necessarily trying to learn something, improve ourselves, or accomplish anything. We just wanted to read.

Today, even something as simple as reading can feel like another opportunity for self-improvement. We're encouraged to set reading goals, keep track of how many books we've finished, listen to audiobooks at faster speeds, and choose titles that will make us more productive, knowledgeable, or successful. And while there's certainly value in learning and personal growth, I wonder whether we've lost sight of something equally important: the simple pleasure of enjoying a good book.

I think about this in the context of wellness because so much of what we hear today focuses on what we should be doing to improve our health. We measure our steps, monitor our sleep, track our food, and look for ways to optimize nearly every part of our daily lives. Yet some of the things that make us feel good don't necessarily need to be measured. Sometimes they simply need to be experienced.

There's something wonderful about becoming so absorbed in a book that you temporarily forget about everything else going on around you. A story can take you somewhere you've never been, introduce you to people whose lives are completely different from your own, or remind you of experiences and emotions you recognize immediately. You might find yourself laughing at a character, becoming frustrated with a decision they make, or thinking about a particular passage long after you've put the book down.

A 2025 research review published in Perspectives in Public Health examined 43 papers exploring the relationship between reading for pleasure and adult well-being. The researchers identified several ways reading may contribute to a positive experience, including opportunities to step away from everyday stress, reflect on personal experiences, consider different perspectives, and connect with others through stories. While the research doesn't establish reading as a universal solution for stress or mental health concerns, it does suggest that something people have enjoyed for generations may offer benefits that extend beyond the pages of a book.

And perhaps that's part of the appeal. When we read something we genuinely enjoy, we're not necessarily focused on what we're getting out of it. We're simply engaged in the experience. In a world where so much competes for our attention, that kind of sustained enjoyment can feel increasingly rare.

I also started thinking about how reading evolved into something much more social, particularly through book clubs. So many women I know still belong to book clubs, and for years these gatherings have provided an opportunity to get together with friends, discover new authors, and talk about stories that might otherwise have remained private experiences. Sometimes the book itself is the main event, and sometimes it's simply the reason everyone gets together.

What's interesting about book clubs is how a single story can lead to so many different conversations. One person might connect with a character because of something she's experienced in her own life, while someone else sees the situation completely differently. A discussion about a fictional relationship might turn into a conversation about friendship, family, marriage, or the decisions we've made along the way. The book becomes a starting point for conversations that might not have happened otherwise.

We can see how powerful that shared experience has become through the popularity of Oprah's Book Club, Reese Witherspoon's Reese's Book Club, and other reading communities. These clubs have introduced people to new authors and brought readers together around stories that spark curiosity and conversation. But I think the real value of a book club often happens on a much smaller scale, around someone's kitchen table, at a neighborhood restaurant, or in a friend's living room.

It's the opportunity to connect. It's having something to look forward to, a reason to spend time together, and a chance to hear how someone else experienced the same story. And perhaps, for many women, the friendships and sense of belonging that develop around those gatherings become just as meaningful as the books themselves.

Of course, not everyone wants to belong to a book club. Some people prefer reading as a completely private experience, a chance to escape into a story without having to discuss or analyze it afterward. I think that's part of what makes reading so appealing. It can be something we do entirely for ourselves, or something that brings us closer to other people. Neither experience needs to be better than the other.

I imagine many of us have books sitting on a shelf or nightstand that we've been meaning to read. We buy them with every intention of opening them, but somehow the days fill up, and when we finally have a little time to ourselves, we reach for our phones or turn on the television instead. It's not necessarily that we've lost interest in reading. Sometimes it's simply easier to fall into familiar habits than to give ourselves the time and attention a book requires.

A 2025 study published in iScience, examining American time-use data from 2003 through 2023, found leisure reading has declined over the past two decades. There are undoubtedly many reasons for that change, including how we work, how we spend our free time, and the growing number of digital distractions competing for our attention. But I don't think the answer is to turn reading into another challenge or give ourselves one more goal to accomplish.

Instead, maybe we could approach it the way we once did, by choosing something that genuinely interests us and making a little room for it. It might be a mystery, a memoir, a novel, or even a book we've read before and loved. We don't need to finish a certain number of pages, read every day, or feel guilty if we lose interest in a particular story. And we certainly don't have to choose a book because someone tells us it's good for us.

What matters is whether we enjoy the experience.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how often we look for a measurable benefit behind the things we do. We walk to improve our cardiovascular health, practice yoga to support our flexibility, and pay attention to our food choices because we want to feel better. Those are all worthwhile reasons, but they aren't the only reasons something can matter.

We can enjoy a walk because the weather is beautiful. We can prepare a meal because we love sharing it with someone. And we can read a book simply because we want to know what happens next.

Perhaps reading for pleasure does support our well-being in ways we're only beginning to understand. Maybe it gives us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, escape for a little while, or connect with others through shared stories. But I also think there's something valuable about allowing an enjoyable experience to be just that, without asking it to deliver a particular result.

Sometimes a good book is simply a good way to spend an afternoon. And maybe that's enough.

If there's a book you've been meaning to read, perhaps this is a good week to pick it up again. Give yourself a little time with it, even if it's only fifteen or twenty minutes. Or reach out to a friend and ask what she's been reading lately. You might discover your next favorite book, start an interesting conversation, or simply enjoy a few quiet moments doing something just for yourself. No reading challenge required.

Thoughtful, practical ideas for feeling well in real life. Join the Aligned & Well newsletter for research-informed guidance on nourishment, movement, mindful living, and seasonal well-being.

Sirisena, M., et al. (2025). Reading for wellbeing: A realist review of evidence. Perspectives in Public Health. A review of 43 papers examining how reading for pleasure may support well-being through reflection, emotional connection, and shared experiences. https://doi.org/10.1177/17579139251371961

Bone, J. K., Bu, F., Sonke, J. K., & Fancourt, D. (2025). The decline in reading for pleasure over 20 years of the American Time Use Survey. iScience, 28(9), 113288. An analysis of U.S. time-use data documenting a decline in daily leisure reading between 2003 and 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113288

Currie, N. K., Wilkinson, K., & McGeown, S. (2025). Reading fiction and psychological well-being during older adulthood: Positive affect, connection and personal growth. Reading Research Quarterly, 60(1), e605. Interviews exploring how fiction reading relates to enjoyment, reflection, and connection in later life. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.605