With a chill in the air and the return of pumpkin spice lattes, fall is the perfect season to curl up with a great book. October is National Book Month and readers nationwide are celebrating by picking up their favorite books. Research on the benefits of reading show positive cognitive stimulation, increased emotional intelligence, improved vocabulary and reduced stress. According to cognitive neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis, reading for just six minutes a day can ease tension and reduce stress levels by 68 percent. Need something to read? Check out some favorites from the PLNU community:
Dr. Mary Paul, Vice President for Spiritual Development
“Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life” by Tish Harrison Warren
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
“Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo
“The Crosswicks Journals” by Madeleine L’Engle
Jake Gilbertson, Dean of Students
“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis
“What is the Bible?” by Rob Bell
“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer
“The Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
Tim Hall, Psychology Professor
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl
“The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck
Melanie Wolf, Director of Discipleship Ministries
“When the Heart Waits” by Sue Monk Kidd
“Becoming Wise” by Krista Tippett
“Learning to Walk in the Dark” by Barbara Brown Taylor
“Becoming Human” by Jean Vanier
Dr. Denise D. Nelson, Interim Director of Ryan Library
“People of the Book” by Geraldine Brooks
Blue Latitudes” by Tony Horwitz
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
Dr. Bob Brower, University President
“The Anticipatory Organization” by Daniel Burrus
“The Restless Wave” by John McCain
“FEAR: Trump in the White House” by Bob Woodward
“The New Education” by Cathy Davidson
Forrest Case, ASB President
“Lead Like Jesus” by Kenneth H. Blanchard
“The Magic Treehouse” series by Mary Pope Osborne
Molly Petersen, Assistant Director of Housing
“One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp
“Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown
“Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans
“Waiting is Not Easy” Mo Willems
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Spend some time this month re-reading an old favorite or diving into something new.