Reading For Well-being
Reading has been shown in studies to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Being a part of a book club can significantly amplify these benefits through fostering social connections. They are a great way to make friends, engage in the community and share perspectives in a relaxed and welcoming space. Through research with book clubs across the U.S., it was discovered:
94% read more widely
94% feel more connected to others
94% talk about reading to others more often
90% feel happier
91% enjoy reading more when we discuss what we have read in the reading group
78% feel more confident to try other things
77% read more
One participant also said: “We are a group of women who have bonded over a love of books. It started as a way of carving out time for each of us (we are all mothers) and claiming back some of our identity. It made a huge difference especially early on when our children were younger. It is something we all look forward to and even though we often have to rearrange and reschedule we always try to meet up every few months. It has had a positive effect on our mental health. It has provided a support network of caring and wonderful women.”
Are you thinking of starting a book club for well-being? Check out our Reading Well collections for inspiration. explores some of the most compelling universal themes found in the pages of these books, helping readers learn to love life, and literature through their encounters with great writing.
1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
Exploring the idea that change can be good or bad, but is always better than just being fine. An uplifting, gentle and honest story infused with humour and realism that reminds us that those we know superficially may, in fact, be living their lives in a completely different context to our own.
2. I’m Still Here
by Clelie Avit
Covering complex subjects including accidents, illness, and suicide, I’m Still Here has an ultimately hopeful and uplifting message.
3. The Stranger On The Bridge: My Journey from Despair to Hope
by Jonny Benjamin
An inspirational and personal account of one man’s story, as he continues to raise awareness of mental illness.
4. The Reader on the 6.27
by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Hating his job in a book pulping factory, his one pleasure in life is to read pages from the books he has saved while sitting on the 6.27 train each day. When he discovers the diary of a lonely young woman who feels as lost in the world as he does, his journey truly begins. A quirky, melancholy story, exploring the isolation, lives and emotions of ordinary people who feel stuck in life.
5. Notes On A Nervous Planet
by Matt Haig
An inspiring read for those who are experiencing stress in their daily lives, encouraging them to discover how these stresses can be avoided or resolved through thinking about them in different ways. Providing thought-provoking, non-didactic messages about the simple joys and how to avoid the chaos that can stem from a busy, modern-day life.
Reading provides benefits throughout all stages of life. It increases knowledge, solidifies previously learned information and benefits children with their development, learning, socialization and imagination. Some studies even suggest that older adults who read frequently tend to fare better when it comes to cognitive outcomes, such as potentially helping lower the risk of dementia and other cognitive disorders.
