Mood-boosting books

Introduction

In 2010, The Reading Agency teamed up with BBC Headroom and worked with reading groups around the country to identify a selection of mood-boosting Books and create a booklist.

This list is aimed at all adults, particularly those who might have experienced mild mental-health conditions linked to stress, anxiety and depression. All the books on the reading list are around creative reading – mainly fiction, with some non-fiction and poetry.

The promotion launched with displays in libraries on World Mental Health Day (Sunday 10 October 2010) and ran until January 2011.

Cold Comfort Farm

Stella Gibbons

The book made me feel happy and I finished it with a smile on my face” A reader, South Tyneside

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom

“It made me feel that we all have a purpose even if it is not clear to us” Louise, Portsmouth

Glad to Wear Glasses

John Hegley

“This book has the power to boost moods and promote wellbeing. . . some poems are fabulously funny and surprising” Peter, Westminster

How to Change Your Life in 7 Steps

John Bird

“I felt, after reading this book, that you can achieve most of the things you want in small stages at a time” A reader, Portsmouth

I Had a Black Dog

Matthew Johnstone

“It brings a sense of relief as you realise that other people have the same experiences” Helen, Portsmouth

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story

Richard Bach

“It made me feel really good and elated” Rio, Sunderland

Like Water for Chocolate

Laura Esquivel

“I liked the way it felt like someone telling a story while they were cooking" Rio, Sunderland

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“An uplifting universal fable for all ages of the power of nurturing love, kindness and compassion"  Rosemary, Westminster

Living with Mother

Michele Hanson

“It was funny, realistic and true to life. It was episodic which  makes it easy to read a chapter and this is uplifting in itself”  Rob and Trisha, Sunderland

Lottery: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Perry L. Crandall

Patricia Wood

“It made you feel you could achieve anything and get over your own problems”  A reader, Sunderland

Michael Rosen’s Book of Very Silly Poems

Edited by Michael Rosen

“It will make you smile – get someone to read the tongue twisters out loud. It’s even more amusing”  Helen, Portsmouth

The Morville Hours

Katherine Swift

“The author paints the landscape with her words . . . You are there” Jackie, South Tyneside

My Family and Other Animals

Gerald Durrell

“Uplifting, nostalgic and funny” Pauline, South Tyneside

The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Alexander McCall Smith

“It still improves my mood when I think about it now” Trisha, Sunderland

The Poetry Cure

Edited by Julia Darling and Cynthia Fuller

“A fine example of the particular power of poetry to both move and enlighten”  Gordon, Westminster

Radio Head: Up and Down the Dial of British Radio

John Osborne

“The easy-going feel brightened my mood each time I picked up the book” Lennox, Westminster

Serious Concerns

Wendy Cope

“Humorous, uplifting and joyfully profound” Kate, South Tyneside

The Uncommon Reader

Alan Bennett

“A joy to read; short, clear . . . An imaginative, sympathetic story”  Rosemary, Westminster

The Wild Places

Robert Macfarlane

“A fascinating book which can take you out of yourself . . .each chapter can be read as a stand-alone piece”  Annie, Portsmouth

Zorba the Greek

Nikos Kazantzakis

“Makes you want to live life to the full” Eileen, South Tyneside

If you want to discuss these or any other books with like-minded-readers, why not join one of our friendly reading groups?