Discover the Magic of Reading: Gemma McCaw’s Top Picks and Wellbeing Benefits

Unwind and Unleash: The Power of a Good Book

Let’s turn the page to a new chapter and explore the wonders a good book can bring to your life. Gemma McCaw, a true bibliophile, reveals how reading can boost your wellbeing and shares her top five must-reads.

The Joy of Reading

For me, the silver lining of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown was the gift of time—time to indulge in my love for reading. I’ve always been a bookworm, but finding the time to read has always been a challenge. During those seven weeks at home, books became a significant part of my life and my family’s. I’ve since made it a habit to read a few pages every night before lights out.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Getting lost in the pages of a good book is a treasure, and research shows that daily reading can greatly enhance our wellbeing.

If you’re not much of a reader, don’t worry—it’s never too late to start. The trick is to begin with books that pique your interest. What are your hobbies? What topics do you enjoy discussing? Choose something that resonates with you. If you’re not hooked after a few chapters, don’t hesitate to put it aside and try something else. Reading should be a pleasure, never a chore.

Five Ways Reading Boosts Your Wellbeing

• An Emotional Escape
  When life gets tough, it’s easy to let negative thoughts take over. Finding ways to switch off is essential, and immersing ourselves in a good book can transport us to a world completely separate from our own.
• Train Your Brain
  Even though it might not feel like it, reading is a workout for your brain. Studies have shown a strong connection between reading and a decreased rate of mental decline later in life. According to Psychology Today, lifelong avid readers showed a 30% slower rate of mental decline, and those who read the most had the fewest physical signs of dementia.
• Feelgood Fiction
  Another study shows that reading fiction can help us become kinder, more compassionate human beings. By delving into another world through literary fiction, our ability to feel empathy increases. Participants in the study who were given non-fiction books to read did not show the same results.
• Relaxing Reads
  The impact of reading on our mental wellbeing has been compared to meditation by some experts. Regular readers have been found to sleep better, have reduced stress levels, better self-esteem, and lower rates of depression and anxiety.
• Take a Screen Break
  Picking up a book usually means putting down our phones or laptops, and we all know how beneficial it is to switch off from our devices. Staring at a screen before bed can interfere with sleep, so instead of scrolling at night, reach for a book. To encourage good habits in your family, try instigating a “no phones in the bedroom” rule. Lead by example and show your kids that reading is cool.

Gemma’s Top 2021 Reads

• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  This was one book I just didn’t want to end. It tells the story of Kya, a wild and mysterious young girl left to fend for herself. Her life is filled with loneliness but also hope, and it’s a story that has stayed with me months after finishing it.
• The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley
  I adore these books! The series follows seven adopted sisters struggling to find their true identities after the death of their beloved and eccentric father. The stories are full of romance and hope—feelgood reading at its best.
• Auē by Becky Manawatu
  Have your tissues ready; this New Zealand novel is a heartbreaking and confronting read with charming and funny characters. It stays with you long after you’ve finished turning the pages.
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  This is a book I am always recommending to friends. Focusing on 29-year-old Eleanor Oliphant, a social misfit with a traumatic past, it deals with themes of isolation and loneliness as we’re taken along on her transformation. It’s a story that makes you think twice about checking in on that co-worker and reminds us of the importance of kindness.
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors—I love all her books, and I just couldn’t put this one down. It’s the story of two French sisters who resist the occupying Nazi forces during World War II by hiding Jewish children and helping allied pilots to escape. This is a war story told from a woman’s perspective and one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read.