MACMILLAN Reading and Mental Health

This book brings together into one edited volume the most compelling rationales for literary reading and health, the best current practices in this area and state of the art research methodologies. It consolidates the findings and insights of this burgeoning field of enquiry across diverse disciplines and groups: psychologists, neurologists, and social scientists; literary scholars, writers and philosophers; medical researchers and practitioners; reading charities and arts organisations.  Following introductory chapters on the literary-historical background to reading and health, the book is divided into four key sections. The first part focuses on Practices, showcasing reading interventions and cultures in clinical and community mental health care and in secure settings. This is followed by Research Methodologies, featuring innovative qualitative and quantitative approaches, and by a section covering Theory, with chapters from eminent thinkers in psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis. The final part is concerned with Implementation, incorporating perspectives from health professionals, commissioners and reading practitioners. This innovate work explains why reading matters in health and wellbeing, and offers a foundational text to future scholars in the field and to health professionals and policy-makers in relation to the embedding of reading practices in professional health care.   Review “This is an excellent and long overdue book. It brings together into one volume the full range of thinking - from psychology, medicine, psychoanalysis, literature and neuroscience - on why reading matters to human flourishing.  As well as the most recent compelling evidence of the value of reading in clinic and care home, community and secure mental health settings, the book offers persuasive testimony from health professionals and service users who have first-hand knowledge of the transformative power of literary reading. Above all, this book brings shared literary reading powerfully to life. It is an essential read for those new to the shared reading phenomenon and to all who have been part of the journey. This book bears witness to how far we have come.”(Jane Davis, Founder and Director of The Reader) “The power of literature to enhance wellbeing and mental health has been increasingly recognized in recent years. This definitive study brings together the relevant practice and research, with contributions from GPs and neurologists as well as literary scholars, and with hard evidence of the benefits of bibliotherapy for those in prisons, hospitals and care homes. Rich both in historical insights and in pointers to how ‘shared reading’ can be developed to alleviate disadvantage and distress, it is a comprehensive and invaluable book.” (Blake Morrison, Poet, Author and Professor of Creative and Life Writing, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK.) “This volume constitutes a landmark in health humanities research. Many people assume there must be a positive correlation between literary reading and mental well-being but remarkably few studies have looked at the relationship systematically. This volume is a compendium of the most up-to-date and comprehensive evidence, bringing together a diverse range of researchers, practitioners and policy-makers, to shine a light on this fascinating and tricky area. Josie Billington and her fellow contributors have produced a collection that will be required reading for health humanists, practitioners, psychologists and literary readers.” (Professor Neil Vickers, Centre for the Humanities and Health, King's College London, UK)   From the Back Cover This book brings together into one edited volume the most compelling rationales for literary reading and health, the best current practices in this area and state of the art research methodologies. It consolidates the findings and insights of this burgeoning field of enquiry across diverse disciplines a