The Paper Advantage: Why Reading Print Is Better for Your Brain

Your brain on screens is not the same as your brain on books. Neuroscience now shows that when we swap pages for pixels, it’s not just a convenient change of format—we are also altering how our brains process and retain information, with significant implications for readers of all ages.

Children with just one book at home are nearly twice as likely to meet literacy and numeracy standards as those without, regardless of income, education, or geography. Beyond developing basic literacy, physical books foster crucial parent–child interactions that build social-emotional and cognitive skills.
These early advantages compound over time. Children growing up with access to books complete an average of three additional years of education compared with those without—potentially the difference between a university education and a high school diploma.