Reading books is a holistic activity that has many proven benefits. Research shows that regular reading can improve your physical health by lowering blood pressure and improving sleep. Some cognitive benefits of reading include boosting your vocabulary and promoting your creativity and imagination.
Reading not only nurtures your body and mind but also serves as a powerful self-care practice, fostering positive impacts on your mental well-being. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) outlines four ways that reading is good for your mental health.
1. It reduces stress
Reading is a stress-relieving technique that is said to be more efficient than other relaxation methods such as listening to music or drinking tea. Studies sounds that it can lower your hate rate and relieve tension.
2. It provides us with a healthy escape
Opening a book is like opening a door to a different world. For a brief moment in time, we can forget about life’s stressors as we immerse ourselves in the words and stories within the books. It serves as a healthy type of escapism that is stronger than other artforms.
3. It can make us more understanding
Reading allows us to build our understanding of life experiences. It helps us to gain more knowledge about the world around us, as well as the world within ourselves.
4. It gives us an opportunity to identify with others in similar circumstances.
Because reading encompasses different topics and incites all sorts of emotions, reading helps us bolster empathy for one another. Reading about other cultures and experiences help us to understand the feelings of others and put ourselves in people’s shoes who are much different than ourselves.
With all the benefits that reading can bring, we encourage our community members to read at least 15-30 minutes a day to promote life-long learning and overall brain health and mental well-being. Check out our reading list below with books by Filipinx authors!
Filipinx Reading List
**"1521" by Judy Robinson
"America is Not the Heart" by Elaine Castillo
**"Brown Skin, White Minds" by E. J. R. David
**"Everlasting Nora" by Marie Miranda Cruz
"Halo-Halo: A poetic mix of culture, history, identity, revelation, and revolution" by Justine Ramos
"I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir" by Malaka Gharib
"Monsoon Mansion: A Memoir" by Cinelle Barnes
**"My Heart of Rice: A Poetic Filipino American Experience" by Ashely C. Lanuza
**"Nervous" - Jen Soriano
**"Patron Saints of Nothing" by Randy Ribay
"Somewhere in the Middle: A journey to the Philippines in search of roots, belonging, and identity" by Deborah Francisco Douglas
"The Son of Good Fortune" by Lysley Tenorio
"A Tiny Upward Shove" by Melissa Chadburn
"Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Book Series" by Mia P. Panansala
**"What You Refuse to Remember" by MT Vallarta
"When Jasmine Blooms" by Tif Marcelo
"When the Hibiscus Falls" by M. Evelina Galang
**"You. Me. Us." by Randolph Rivo
**Book available at our Little Free Library located in front of the PVFAA office.
Have a book you recommend? Share it with us in the blog comments!
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