Is reading the best hobby? On National Book Day, in the National Year of Reading, we look at the importance and excitement of turning physical pages.
Six reasons to pick up a book today
Page power: As reading rates among young people hit record lows, experts warn that choosing digital screens over physical books could be damaging our brains and our happiness. Glossary
HG Wells - The famous British author often called the "father of science fiction" for writing legendary books like "The War of the Worlds", "Brave New World" and "The Time Machine".
George Orwell - Real name Eric Arthur Blair, a world-renowned 20th-century novelist, most famous for his political novels Animal Farm and 1984.
Dickens - Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) was an English writer who is known for books such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.
Jane Austen - An English novelist most famous for writing Pride and Prejudice.
Recession - A period of economic decline. A recession occurs when a country’s Gross Domestic Product falls for six months in a row.