Spring and summer are perfect reading times, the seasons to lounge outdoors, in a hammock or Adirondack chair. The weather is warm, leaves are filling out trees and flowers are blooming a prism of colors. At night, you can take a book to bed, reading yourself into a dreamy sleep.
Aside from relaxation and enjoyment, studies show that the act of reading is a boost for cognitive health, particularly as we age. Researchers at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois found that "regular, engaged leisure reading can strengthen memory skills in older adults, laying the groundwork for better practices in preserving our mental abilities as we age."
By stimulating the brain’s neural pathways, you may be able to expand your capacity to keep learning into your golden years. So, whether you love mysteries or novels, historical fiction, memoirs or simply a short book that makes your spirit feel large, I’ve got you covered with my following list of new reads.
Owens, a bookstore owner, media mogul, podcaster, publisher and every writer’s North Star, has written her own crackerjack first novel, which takes off from every writer’s nightmare: facing the blank page. When 40-something writer, wife and mother Pippa feels her once successful writing career is over, she comes up with a crazy idea that could change the trajectory of her livelihood and maybe the publishing world itself. And to her surprise, the idea works, jumpstarting a whole new life, too, and proving to her and to her delighted readers of all ages that it is never too late to change.
Beloved national treasure Lamott offers the kind of self-help that’s thoughtful, engaging and also really witty. Here, she reflects on how we can cope with aging, with the darker world around us, and with each other. And her answer, the antidote, is the power of love. Written in Lamott’s wry, comfortable voice, Somehow shows us how love can be unexpected (Lamott married for the first time in her 60s). Love can comfort us, challenge us and even surprise us if we let it. This is a wonderful little book that’s meant to be bought in multiple copies because you’re going to want to give it to your friends, as well as keep a copy for yourself close to your heart.
The Last Murder at the End of the World