Warren Buffett’s reading routine could make you smarter

In these post-truth days of false Facebook news and a president-elect who thinks that climate change is all a Chinese hoax, it's worth arming yourself with some actual know-how.

Enter Warren Buffett, businessman, philanthropist, investor extraordinaire - according to science - potentially your new lifestyle guru.

According to this CNBC article, following in the footsteps of the Buff Man's reading routine could actually make you smarter.

Buffett credits much of his success to the fact that he spends up to 80 per cent of each day with books, newspapers, reports, etc.

I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think.

So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.

- Warren Buffett

Reading is succeeding, after all. And here's how it can help:

1. Intelligence

Hundreds of medical and psychological studies back up the notion that reading can make you smarter, not just by informing you and adding to your knowledge database, but also by improving your vocabulary.

This research showed that reading fiction can improves brain function, imagination and the ability to empathise with others.

One 2014 study found that reading significantly improved the reader's ability to imagine themselves in another's situation, and therefore better able to understand their point of view.

Other research, such as the evidence published in the European Journal of Communication Research, Science Mag and this journal, concluded that reading fiction also improves emotional intelligence and social relationships.

2. Wealth

Steve Siebold was just your average broke university student before he began interviewing millionaires to try and crack the secret to their success.

Over 30 years, he interviewed more than 1,200 millionaires and billionaires, and published his findings in his book 'How Rich People Think'.

One trait he identified almost across the board was a voracious reading habit.

3. Memory

This research suggests that a long-term reading habit slows the decline of memory and keeps you mentally sharp for longer.

Several other studies show that mental stimulation, such as regular reading, can delay the onset of dementia.

One landmark study, 'What Reading Does For The Mind'​, connected the cognitive 'coding' process of reading with the ability to create new memories, thus showing a direct correlation between regular reading and retention of information.

In general, reading can improve focus and concentration, as you focus entirely on the novel and limit distractions that lower productivity.

4. Stress reduction

Researchers at the University of Sussex concluded that reading for just six minutes can reduce a person's stress levels by nearly 70 per cent.

It has been shown that spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and calm the reader, while self-help books have been shown to ameliorate suffering from some emotional and mental disorders.

Reading is also a way to switch off from our digitally-obsessed world and escape constant communication via smartphones, which several studies have suggested are behind an increase in stress levels.

5. Overall emotional wellbeing

Owing to the psychological, intellectual, emotional and meditative benefits, this study carried out by The Reading Agency concluded that reading for pleasure improves overall wellbeing.

The research also highlighted how reading plays a vital role in improving educational outcomes and literacy in children, helps improve relationships with others, and can even reduce the symptoms of depression.

“It is no surprise to us that reading for pleasure improves wellbeing and builds empathy and we were delighted to work with The Reading Agency to commission this valuable research," said Diana Gerald, CEO of Book Trust.

We know that reading for pleasure has a dramatic impact on life outcomes - and this is as much about confidence and wellbeing as it is about educational achievements.

Quite simply, children who read for pleasure are happier, healthier and do better in life than those who don't.

Be smart. Be like Warren.

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