Books to boost the spirits


As previously featured on this blog, The Reading Agency is a charity with a mission to inspire more people to read more.  Research shows that reading improves mental well-being and it was against this background that, in 2011, The Reading Agency launched a promotion called ‘mind boosting books'.  Reading groups around the UK identified a range of books to include on a list of recommended reading aimed at people who may have experienced mental health issues including stress, anxiety or depression.The 2011 campaign reached 50,000 people in library authorities, colleges, prisons and NHS trusts.For the 2012 campaign (launching this month) The Reading Agency has partnered with Vintage, the publishers of Stop What You're Doing and Read This which features essays from leading contemporary writers.  An additional 26 titles will be promoted during the campaign including classics such as The Secret Garden and The Pursuit of Love.  The full list includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels including titles for less confident readers.The restorative power of reading (in whatever format) is well known to us all, of course and we all have our favourite mood-boosting books (let me nominate Three Men in a Boat as a book that always makes me laugh out loud although I am not sure that this qualifies it for inclusion on the list).  Any thoughts or suggestions for mood-boosting reading gratefully received!