Pledge to Read One Book Each Month

It happened again, didn't it? Your coworkers made a Marcel Proust reference in water cooler conversation and you had no idea what they were talking about. It's becoming so bad that they'll never even pass the conch so you get a turn to speak. There's a way to fix this, you know. All you need to do is start reading.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts "reading has declined among every group of adult Americans," and fewer than half of American adults read literature during the course of a year.

This has to change -- reading isn't just good for you, it's good for society. Here are just a few of the many benefits of regular reading:

• It makes you smarter — Studies have shown that reading increases one's vocabulary as well as improves general cognitive reasoning skills.
• It sets a good example — The more a child is exposed to reading at a young age, the better they tend to do in school. If your kids see you reading, they're more likely to want to do it themselves.
• It can make you a generally nicer person — A collaborative study between several universities showed that individuals who frequently read fiction were more empathetic and understanding of others than those who didn't.
• It reduces stress -- Just six minutes of reading is enough to significantly reduce stress, according to a British study. It works better than listening to music, having a cup of coffee or tea, or taking a walk.

What more convincing do you need? Sign the pledge below to read one book a month, even if it's Twilight.