Scientific Proof

A 20 year study conducted in 27 countries was just completed, and that study makes me more than a little giddy. 'Cuz that's a huge study, right? Massive.

The study found that the number of books in a family's home
has a greater determining factor on how much education a child will get
than anything else.

Anything!


Before this study, scientists believed that the education level of the parents was the greatest determining factor. But get this: having books in the home is twice as important as the father’s education level.

It's more important than what country the child was born in.
It's more important than the father's occupation.
It's more important than the country's political system. Or its gross domestic product.

The study found that, “Having as few as 20 books in the home still has a significant impact on propelling a child to a higher level of education, and the more books you add, the greater the benefit.”

And, if having a 500 book library in your home versus having no books is the same as the parents having a university education versus having a 2nd grade education. Can you even believe that?


This makes me happy for a few reasons:

1. Yay! Another reason to buy books! I really like buying books.
2. Although Lance has a university education, I still have to mark the "some college" option on forms. A little bit of me dies each time I do. At least now I know that as far as my kids are concerned, books will make up for it!
3. No matter how frustrating/difficult/long/discouraging/impossible the climb is, I plan to be a published author. When that day comes, I can tell parents, "Buy your kid my book and they'll go to college!"