And, comprehensive reading exercises cognitive function and hits underworked areas of the brain, according to The Atlantic. And there’s a bonus for fiction readers. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, people who read fiction possess stronger social-cognitive abilities than non-readers and non-fiction readers. Reading improves the craft of writing. It means more exposure to a wider vocabulary, you have a better chance of using words appropriately and you’re exposed to a different writing style. Reading is a solitary activity, but it’s still very social. Zenith Bookstore’s virtual book clubs have been alive and well during the pandemic, a fact manager Nikki Silvestrini attributes to the social piece of reading.