Did you grow up with your nose always stuck in a book? If so, you might have picked up a few special traits along the way.
I know I certainly did.
There’s just something about people who spent their childhood reading that sets them apart.
Maybe it’s how they see the world, or just that they can whip out a literary quote for any occasion.
So, what makes readers different?
Let’s take a fun look at the nine unique traits you often find in people who grew up reading.
You might see a bit of yourself in these!
1) Empathy is their second language
You know how it is. You’ve spent countless hours living in the shoes of different characters, understanding their thoughts, motivations, and emotions.
This has a way of making you see the world differently, doesn’t it?
For example, I remember reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” as a kid. The way Harper Lee painted the characters, their struggles and triumphs…
It was an eye-opener.
It made me more sensitive to people’s feelings and perspectives.
Turns out, this isn’t just me. Studies have shown that people who read a lot during their formative years tend to develop higher levels of empathy.
2) They’re natural-born problem solvers
Remember those mystery novels or adventure stories?
The ones where you’d try to solve the puzzle before the protagonist did?
I used to love those! I remember devouring every Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on.
And you know what? I believe it trained my mind to think critically and logically.
Again, this isn’t just anecdotal. Avid readers often develop strong problem-solving skills.
We’re used to analyzing situations, identifying patterns, and coming up with solutions – just like our favorite fictional detectives!
3) Their vocabularies are rich
Each book we read adds new words and phrases to our mental dictionary.
It’s like a treasure hunt where every page has the potential to reveal linguistic gems.
From classics with their old-world charm to contemporary novels showcasing modern lingo, every word absorbed enriches our vocabulary.
The result? People who grew up reading often have a broader vocabulary than their non-reading counterparts.
4) They find solace in solitude
Growing up, our best friends were often the characters in our favorite books.
We’d spend hours, sometimes even days, immersed in these imaginary worlds, perfectly content with our own company.
This comfort in solitude doesn’t fade as we grow older.
We embrace it, finding peace and tranquility in those quiet moments when it’s just us and our books.
It’s a form of self-care, a sanctuary we can always retreat to when the world gets a little too noisy.
5) They’re dreamers and thinkers
I always had a vivid imagination as a kid.
I’d lose myself in the fantastical worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, picturing every scene, every character in my mind’s eye.
When I’d put the book down, the stories would continue to play out in my imagination.
And I’ve noticed the same in other voracious readers too.
We’re the dreamers, the ones who can envision possibilities beyond the ordinary.
But we’re also the thinkers, pondering over plot twists and character arcs, analyzing and reflecting.
Reading has this wonderful way of igniting our imaginations and fueling our thoughts.
And that’s something truly special, isn’t it?
6) They have a lifelong love for learning
Reading is a journey of discovery, isn’t it? With every book we opened, we learned something new – about the world, about people, about life.
This nurtured in us a curiosity, a thirst for knowledge that goes beyond just books.
As adults, we’re often the ones who are constantly seeking to learn and grow.
We’re not afraid to ask questions, to challenge our own understanding, to venture into the unknown.
Because we know that there’s always something new to discover, something more to understand.
7) Their communication skills are top-notch
Through all those dialogues and monologues we’ve read, we’ve inadvertently picked up how to articulate our thoughts and ideas effectively.
We understand the power of words and how they can convey emotions, create imagery, and persuade minds.
Whether it’s writing an email or giving a presentation, we (and other readers like us) find it easier to express ourselves because we’ve been learning from the best – the authors who have captivated us with their storytelling prowess.
8) They appreciate different perspectives
From the humble hobbit in Middle Earth to the powerful wizard in Hogwarts, from the rebellious teenager in a dystopian future to the introspective old man in rural America, people who grew up reading have seen the world through myriad eyes.
This is perhaps what I appreciate most about reading.
It shaped me to be more open-minded and to understand that everyone has their own story.
Aside from vocabulary and plotlines, reading shows us that there’s no one ‘right’ way of seeing things.
That’s a huge part of building open-mindedness and empathy.
9) They’re resilient
Think about all those characters who faced adversities, who fought battles, who overcame their personal demons.
They inspired us, made us believe in the strength of the human spirit.
As adults, we carry this with us. We know that life isn’t always easy and that there will be challenges.
But we also know that, like our favorite characters, we too have the strength to face them and come out stronger.
Reading has given us more than just entertainment. It’s shaped us, made us who we are today.
And that’s something to be proud of, don’t you think?
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Exhausted from trying to hold it all together?
You show up. You smile. You say the right things. But under the surface, something’s tightening. Maybe you don’t want to “stay positive” anymore. Maybe you’re done pretending everything’s fine.
This book is your permission slip to stop performing. To understand chaos at its root and all of your emotional layers.
In Laughing in the Face of Chaos, Brazilian shaman Rudá Iandê brings over 30 years of deep, one-on-one work helping people untangle from the roles they’ve been stuck in—so they can return to something real. He exposes the quiet pressure to be good, be successful, be spiritual—and shows how freedom often lives on the other side of that pressure.
This isn’t a book about becoming your best self. It’s about becoming your real self.
