For many of us, there’s nothing better than burying our head in a good book. Whether it’s a gripping crime story or a biography of someone’s amazing life, it’s good to read a book to switch off from the distractions of everyday life and help us relax. Maybe that’s why some of them are actually being prescribed as a remedy to sickness.

It may seem obvious that reading is good for us. It can be educational, and, as some say, it can ‘broaden the mind’. A good novel can make us happy or sad, or make us cry as we empathise with characters. The power of books was recognised a few years ago by the British charity Reading Agency, who published a list of books that doctors could offer to patients, tackling topics from depression to dementia to chronic pain. It called this ‘bibliotherapy’ and it’s become so successful that it's about to be extended to children as well.

Professor Philip Davis studies the effects of literature at Liverpool University and is author of a book called Reading for Life. He studies people in reading groups and found that it’s reading literature – written work thought to have artistic merit, that has the best effect. He told the BBC that when reading something for pleasure, “…the brain begins to work from different parts, from a different hemisphere and it gets excited, it gets pre-emotional – and you can see the brain coming to life.”

Of course, it’s easy in our smartphone generation to ditch a good book and fiddle with our phones instead. But opening up a paperback could be a simple way to help boost or maintain our mental health. It's thought they can help you set targets and find focus. And they may allow you see that awkward situation you've been anxious about for weeks from someone else's perspective.

If you’re not an avid reader it can be hard to know where to begin. If the Reading Agency book list doesn’t appeal, you could to read book reviews, visit a library or bookshop or ask a friend. Once you’ve found the right text, you’ll be hooked! And if you still love your technology, you could always use an e-reader.

gripping  adj. 扣人心弦的，引人入胜的

crime story 犯罪故事

biography n. 传记

broaden the mind 拓宽思路

bibliotherapy n. 阅读疗法

literature n. 文学，文学作品

artistic merit 艺术价值

ditch v. 丢弃

paperback n. 平装书

mental health 心里健康

perspective n.（思考问题的）角度，观点

avid reader 书迷

book reviews 书评

hooked adj. 入迷的，上瘾的

1. How might being prescribed a book to read help someone?

2. True or false? Bibliotherapy is only available for children.

3. According to Professor Philip Davis, reading what type of material is best for improving mental health?

4. Name one place where you could get advice on what book to read.

5. According to the article, how can reading a book help with anxiety?

1.The latest action movie is really _______, I’m going to see it again!

A.gripped       B.gripping        C. grippled       D.griping

2. I like reading anything but especially _______ because I like to learn about other people’s lives.

A.paperbacks       B.biographies        C.literature       D.novels

3. According to the _______, the new series of Doctor Who is going to be the best ever!

A.perspective       B.text        C.artistic merit       D.reviews

4. I am an _______ sports fan so I’ll watch anything that gets shown on TV!

A.avid       B.distracted        C.novel       D.focussed

5. My dad said that going to university would help me _______, but I’m not so sure!

A.broaden the mind       B.broad the mind        C.broad mind               D.mind broaden

1. How might being prescribed a book to read help someone?

It helps remedy sickness and can improve your mental health.

2. True or false? Bibliotherapy is only available for children.

False. Bibliotherapy has become so successful that it's about to be extended to children as well.

3. According to Professor Philip Davis, reading what type of material is best for improving mental health?

Professor Philip Davis’s research found that it’s reading literature that has the best effect.

4. Name one place where you could get advice on what book to read.

You could read book reviews, visit a library or bookshop, or ask a friend.

5. According to the article, how can reading a book help with anxiety?

They may allow you to see the awkward situation you've been anxious about for weeks from someone else's perspective.

1. The latest action movie is really gripping, I’m going to see it again!

2. I like reading anything but especially biographies because I like to learn about other people’s lives.

3. According to the reviews, the new series of Doctor Who is going to be the best ever!

4. I am an avid sports fan so I’ll watch anything that gets shown on TV!

5. My dad said that going to university would help me broaden the mind, but I’m not so sure!