Writing in Your Books Is Good for Your Brain
11 hours ago
- #reading-trends
- #cognitive-benefits
- #marginalia
- Marginalia, or creative book annotations, are trending on TikTok and Instagram, sparking debates on their value.
- Historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci and authors such as Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe used marginalia extensively.
- Ann Patchett created a special annotated edition of 'Tom Lake' to raise funds for indie bookstores.
- Neuroscientific research supports that handwriting annotations can enhance memory and understanding of texts.
- Maryanne Wolf highlights that marginalia helps readers develop their own interpretations beyond the author's intent.
- Demet Yayli emphasizes the role of annotations in fostering learner autonomy, especially in language and genre-fiction writing.
- Online annotation styles vary widely from academic expectations, but experts agree any style that serves the reader's purpose is valid.
- Romance readers often annotate favorite romantic or erotic scenes, adding a personal touch to secondhand books.
- The trend of aesthetically matching annotation tools to book covers is popular among 'book-tokers' and 'book-fluencers'.
- The practice of annotating books can inspire deeper engagement with reading and personal growth.