Summer is a chance for us hardworking college students to take a break from the mental and emotional strain of 15+ credit hours, unwinding and hopefully finding time for hobbies we don't always make room for in our busy schedules. For those of us not enrolled in any summer courses or working, it can be tempting to fall into a mindless routine of Netflix and mid day naps. To combat this urge, I'm here to tell you why a book can (and should) be your best friend this summer.

Let's start with some practical reasons. It may seem nice now to forget about anything that may be slightly akin to schoolwork, but chances are, you will regret that decision come August. If you're lucky enough to have avoided summer class, you may find yourself struggling to make it through that 60-page reading your professor assigns on day one of fall semester. You can argue that reading the guide on TV or endless text messages from your equally bored friends will keep your brain nimble, but there is nothing like a good old-fashioned book to do the trick. Reading maintains patience and attention skills, for finishing a book is usually a multi-day commitment. You can't breeze through a New York Times Bestseller like you can your Twitter feed. The reader needs to become invested in the story, just as students need to be invested in their work in order to succeed.

More importantly, reading is enjoyable and good for the soul. Movies and television shows hand you what they want you to perceive of a story, but books allow you to make of them what you will. The author writes what he or she believes to be important, but the reader holds the power to interpret it in a unique way. Watching something play out on a screen is a passivity. Reading is an activity. Calling it an escape sounds cliché, but it's true. If you're like me and your summer has been painfully uneventful, a book can give you the opportunity to leave your not-so-exciting world of various reruns and immerse yourself in something more stimulating.

If you're not yet convinced, get this: reading actually makes you a better person. Studies have proven that reading, particularly literary fiction novels, increases empathy in its audience. It transports the reader right into situations that he or she may not directly relate to. Reading something told from a different perspective helps us identify with the characters, whether or not they are similar to ourselves. Naturally, those who read are more inclined to feel for others in the real world as well. You can participate in a pleasant pastime and simultaneously become a more understanding person. A win-win.

You don't have to pick up one of the classic novels you were asked to read (and possibly bypassed, thanks to SparkNotes) in high school. You may have bad memories of having no choice when it came to what you read in school, but now it's all up to you. Find something that interests you; an autobiography written by your favorite actor, an over-dramatic Nicholas Sparks romance, or that book you just recently found out was the inspiration for one of your favorite movies. If you aren't passionate about reading, you can at least read something you are passionate about. Once you get started, I bet you'll be hooked. There's no time like the present, so close your laptop and head to the library.