Resources to help you find your next great read
According
to the National Institute on Aging, reading is an excellent way to keep your mind engaged as you age. One study revealed that people who participate in mentally stimulating activities earlier in life (and for the duration of their lives) are less likely to develop dementia. Reading has also been proven to reduce stress, improve sleep and alleviate symptoms of depression.
Thanks to technology and the internet, there’s a plethora of books just waiting to be discovered. Here are some tips to help you find your next page-turner:
• What Should I Read Next?: As the name suggests, What Should I Read Next? is an online database filled with book recommendations from “real readers” just like you. Go to whatshouldireadnext.com, type the title or the author of one of your favorite books into the website’s search bar, and the generator will take care of the rest. You can also choose book recommendations based on popular subjects, including romance, fantasy, sci-fi, murder mysteries, and more.
• GoodReads: GoodReads (goodreads.com) is stacked with readers’ opinions — in fact, the site describes itself as the “world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations.” With GoodReads, you can search for books by genre, sift through reader reviews, or check out the GoodReads Choice Awards.
• BookBub: If you’re looking for a good read and a discount, sign up for BookBub at bookbub.com. This daily newsletter sends a selection of discounted titles straight to your inbox. Just enter your email and answer a few questions. BookBub also sends members free ebooks and book-related alerts (e.g. new deals and releases), so you can stay up-to-date no matter which device you’re on.
• Start with the classics: Maybe you’d rather turn to the classics. For example, the Penguin Classics collection consists of 2,000 titles across several genres (penguinclassics.com). Notable Penguin authors include John Steinbeck (“Of Mice and Men”), Jack Kerouac (“On the Road”), and Edith Grossman (“Don Quixote”).
• Book of the Month: Book of the Month (bookofthemonth.com) is a monthly subscription that allows users to pick their next read from a carefully curated selection of books. Members can choose to receive one to three books per month (each additional book is $9.99). Members can cancel without fee or skip a month whenever they want.
• The library: Why not go straight to the source? Visiting the library is an excellent way to find new books to read for free. Just ask the staff for ideas on what to check out. Or, better yet, take a stroll through the stacks to see what titles catch your eye.
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