How reading can help with anxiety, depression, and stress

The power of bibliotherapy

James Baldwin had it right sixty years ago when he said, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”

Research suggests bibliotherapy—reading specific books as part of a mental health treatment plan—can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.

You don’t have to be a clinical setting to derive the benefits. For me, reading a novel is a great way to get out of my head and put my bullshit in perspective.

I first heard about bibliotherapy from the journalist and author Cody Delistraty, who himself discovered it while on a years-long mission to recover from the death of his mother. He came on my podcast today to talk about this, and many other things, he learned about grief.

Listen to or watch the full episode.

And—Cody himself is going to be in our chat today. Ask him anything. Hope to see you there.

Here’s a link to Cody’s book: The Grief Cure: Looking for the End of Loss

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