At Books.ph, we believe there's something undeniably special about reading. No feeling quite compares to the one you get when you curl up with a good book.

There are many reasons reading a book makes you feel happier, and the world's favorite authors agree too. Stephen King once said that "books are a uniquely portable magic." In A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin stated that "a reader lives a thousand lives before he dies." And J.K. Rowling summed up the experience of reading when she said, "If you don't like to read, you haven't found the right book."

So many readers and writers have professed their love for the written word. In fact, we even celebrate World Book Day to pay homage to books and writers all around the world. If you're a fellow book lover, you will likely agree that books make you happy too. When times get tough, the worlds in books are always waiting for you.

Whether you read for relaxation or pure escapism, here are some of the ways being a bookworm contributes to the joy chemicals in your brain.

Adventures into the Unknown

If you've purchased lots of books over the years, you can probably relate when we say that they're portals leading to other worlds. Reading a book is an exciting and adventurous experience of traversing through various universes, discovering new characters, cultures, and ideas. Those flashes or bursts of inspiration you experience when reading a book, be it fiction or non-fiction, are exhilarating and immersive.

Silent Helpers and Motivators

Yes, you can always trust the advice of a family member or a close friend about your problems in life. However, books can be a big help when the tides get rough too.

Books will offer you ideas to ponder and meditate on without waiting for your decision or looking for a pay-off. They offer an open path and they won't judge you for not following their words and advice. They simply show you how things pan out in certain universes, helping you figure out the woes of life and the struggles of existence through subtle, relatable cues.

An Eye Opener

Each reading session is a powerful eye-opener. It gives you insight into things connected with you, or things you didn't realize you were connected to until you find out how pertinent a particular story is to the intricate webbings of your life.

After all, stories are mostly about the human experience, about love and loss, about the joys and struggles of existence. Books are also about people as individuals. Even a book that talks about the Cold War or the political climate in the UK is about individuals. When you read them, you find out more about the workings of the world at large and how specific events influence the lives of individuals.

Reveals Hidden Selves

The books you read are true influencers in your life. The words of a story, a memoir, or a poem, however short or long, can create change and improvement in your perspective and outlook in life.

Reading can change your mindset and even open up thoughts or feelings that were lying dormant for years. In other words, it can reveal things to you about your deeper self you thought you haven't touched in years.

A Challenge for this Week: Celebrate the Joy of Reading

If reading is something you haven't done in a while, try one of the suggestions below. Your options for reading and genre preferences may have changed over time, but you may be surprised at what you'll discover!

• Shut down your laptop, put down your phone, and open a real, physical book. Relish in the joy of turning actual pages and immersing yourself in a story.
• Take a tour around ph and see if any of the titles on our virtual shelves catch your eye. Who knows, you might find your next favorite read!
• Use social media to follow book clubs and accounts centered on book recommendations. For instance, the Books.ph Facebook page posts #bookrecs weekly.
• Love fantasy or romantic comedies? Try a new genre to read such as creative non-fiction, poetry, or science fiction.
• Reread one of your favorite books! Even if you've read it before, it can reignite your love for reading.

Celebrate the joy of reading with Books.ph. Browse through our virtual shelves and have new books delivered straight to your door.