There is strong evidence that self-help reading can help people with common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, sometimes on its own or with other forms of treatment.
In a report commissioned by GALAXY® chocolate on behalf of the Reading Agency’s Quick Reads initiative, which produces short books by well-known authors for busy people and less confident readers, it is revealed that regular reading has the unique ability to empower us to embark on positive journeys in life, connect us with others and make us feel happier in our own skin.
The Reading Agency have lists of books recommended for their mood boosting effect, and last year’s list, chosen by readers groups can be found in full here, http://reading-well.org.uk/books/mood-boosting-books/chosen-by-reading-groups-2016
Here are some of their recommendations and ours from our catalogue:-
The readers of Broken Wheel recommend by Katarina Bivald
Sara has never left Sweden but at the age of 28 she decides it’s time. She cashes in her savings, packs a suitcase full of books and sets off for Broken Wheel, Iowa, a town where she knows nobody. Sara quickly realises that Broken Wheel is in desperate need of some adventure, a dose of self-help and perhaps a little romance, too. In short, this is a town in need of a bookshop. With a little help from the locals, Sara sets up Broken Wheel’s first bookstore. The shop might be a little quirky but then again, so is Sara.
Going to sea in a sieve: the autobiography by Danny Baker
Danny Baker was born in Deptford, South East London in June 1957, and from an early age was involved in magazine journalism, with the founding of fanzine ‘Sniffin’ Glue’, alongside friend Mark Perry. This is a biography of his life and career in television and radio.
The extraordinary life of Frank Derrick, age 81 by Bob Jim
Frank Derrick is 81 … and he’s just been run over by a milk float. It was tough enough to fill the hours of the day when he was active, but now he’s broken his arm and fractured his foot, it looks set to be a very long few weeks ahead. He watches DVDs, spends his money frivolously at the local charity shop and desperately tries to avoid the cold callers knocking on his door. Emailing his daughter in America on the library computer and visiting his friend Smelly John used to be the highlights of his week. Now he can’t even do that. Then a breath of fresh air comes into his life in the form of Kelly Christmas, home help. With her little blue car and appalling parking, her cheerful resilience and ability to laugh at his jokes, Kelly changes Frank’s life.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
‘Wonder’ is the funny, sweet and incredibly moving story of Auggie Pullman. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, this shy, bright ten-year-old has been home-schooled by his parents for his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the stares and cruelty of the outside world.
The humans by Matt Haig
Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world’s greatest mathematical riddle. Then he disappears. When he is found walking naked along the motorway, Professor Martin seems different. Besides the lack of clothes, he now finds normal life pointless. His loving wife and teenage son seem repulsive to him. In fact, he hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton. And he’s a dog. Can a bit of Debussy and Emily Dickinson keep him from murder?
The Rosie project by Graeme Simsion
Meet Don Tillman. Don is getting married. He just doesn’t know who to yet. But he has designed a very detailed questionnaire to help him find the perfect woman. One thing he already knows, though, is that it’s not Rosie. Absolutely, completely, definitely not.
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