As a bibliophile and teacher, I’m naturally drawn to The Art of Mindful Reading. Ella Berthoud preaches the benefits and balm of slow, thoughtful reading and the deep enjoyment of physical books and the printed word. She provides fresh ideas and exercises for retraining your brain to tune out distractions so you can truly dive deep into story or poem. She draws on compelling research—did you know fiction readers are shown to live longer?—and her argument for reading as a means to improved concentration and overall mental health couldn’t be more relevant, as we’re all feeling the strain of life in the attention economy.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.
