Happy World Book Day! This year’s annual celebration of books on 4th March has an added resonance because of the resurgence in reading over the last 12 months.
Books are fantastically important. Their stories unlock learning. Stephen King once called them “a uniquely portable magic”, which sums up our feelings about them pretty well.
It’s why we regularly review the latest books about customer experience. Here are a few hand-picked favorites:
- The Culture Code – secrets of highly successful groups
- Subscribed – how to leverage the subscription model in your business
- The Power of Moments – why certain moments in customer relationships have extraordinary impact
- Rebel Ideas – why your team needs to be capable not just of diverse thought but that they feel comfortable and safe to express those thoughts in front of peers and colleagues
Reading for pleasure is a lockdown lifeline. Books are the gateway to knowledge, understanding and pleasure. That’s very important in normal times, but especially so when lockdowns limit your horizons.
According to the National Literacy Trust, UK children’s enjoyment of reading increased during the first lockdown from 47.8% to 55.9%. More than 3 in 10 (31.6%) said reading helps them when they feel sad because they cannot see their family and friends.
These findings are significant. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or even their income. “Reading for pleasure” has bounced back having reached a 15-year low prior to lockdown, with the restrictions on liberty clearly acting as a catalyst to devour more books. Lastly, reading for pleasure is more than just a means to educate, explore, be inspired and entertained. This is at least as much about mental health and wellbeing too.
Happier, smarter and better rested
Various studies collated by the likes of The Reading Agency have shown that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations. Reading for pleasure is also associated with better sleeping patterns while reading in general can help people feel less lonely and more likely to report greater life satisfaction.
Reading also increases our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of perspectives and motivations. There is compelling evidence that mental stimulation is one of the factors that can delay the onset of dementia in later life and reading is among the activities that can help to keep the brain active.
Go on, pick up a book today!
So, reading definitely isn’t just for kids. But do you read as much as you should? Perhaps you, a friend or a colleague have lost their interest in books with age. As JK Rowling says, “if you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” More to the point, perhaps your tastes have changed or you’ve stopped looking and need to get back into the habit.
We heartily recommend Goodreads as a great resource for rekindling your love of books. Swap books and book recommendations with people you share interests with. Ask colleagues and customers for book suggestions relevant to your industry or professional skills. Better still, pluck up the confidence to suggest a book to them yourself or mail one as a thoughtful gift.
As Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Here’s hoping!
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If this has inspired you to do surveys and get feedback from staff or customers, give Customer Thermometer a spin. Your trial account comes with 10 free surveys:
