The benefits of reading and 5 books for the summer

As Europe goes into summer vacation mode, it's a great opportunity to slow down and open a good book. Whether it is a business book or a novel, did you know that reading can bring you unexpected benefits when it comes to your health?

Here are a few incredible facts about the benefits of reading and 5 books that are favorites of mine. And you, what books you are taking with you on holiday this summer?

• According to a 2009 study conducted by the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68 percent, even more than listening to music or going for a walk! (source: Medical News Today)
• In one neuroimaging study, participants who read more narrative fiction had greater activation of parts of the prefrontal cortex involved in perspective-taking when reading text containing social context. This greater activation may partially explain the correlation between lifetime reading and the ability to understand how people are thinking. (source: Psychology Today)
• Reading books may add years to your life! Researchers studied the records of 5,635 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing investigation of people who were 50 or older and had provided information on their reading habits when the study began. They determined that people who read books regularly had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years compared with people who weren't readers or who read periodicals. (source: Harvard Health Publishing)

As an avid reader myself, I am always on the lookout for a great book recommendation. Here are 5 books that I have really enjoyed in the last few years. Which ones would you recommend?

1 - Pachinko - Min Jin Lee - An extraordinary family history.

This incredible novel tells the story of a Korean family in Japan, spanning several generations during the 20th century. If you are into novels about resilience, unconditional love and strong women, this is for you. It's also the story of segregation, hatred and identity. The message is profound, heartbreaking but also full of hope. The writing style is flawless and I must confess that I learnt a lot about the history of Japan and Korea. It's truly a work of art.

2 - The Name of The Wind - Patrick Rothfuss - A monument of modern Heroic Fantasy

This book is the first book in the Kingslayer series. It tells the story of a young Kvothe through the recollection of memories of his older self. It's a story of drama, education, magic and adventures. Patrick Rothfuss's writing style is nothing short of extraordinary. He manages to build a world from scratch and provides enough details so that it becomes a truly immersive experience. A word of caution though... There is a second book called "The Wise Man's fear" that pursues the tale of Kvothe and is as enjoyable as the first one. However, there isn't yet a third book. Patrick Rothfuss has refused to give any indication when he'd be ready to conclude the story of his hero. It is hugely frustrating and probably adds to the legend of this book series!

3 - The One thing - Gary Keller & Jay Papasan - How to focus on what matters most in your personal and work lives

In these times where the ability to multitask is put on a pedestal, this book takes the exact opposite route. It demonstrates very clearly that, rather than chasing multiple goals at the same time or trying to drive multiple personal and professional projects in parallel, it is far more efficient to concentrate on one single topic.

This book is rather short but gives examples and guidance on how and why we can all benefit from focusing on one task at a time until it is completed. It also clearly demonstrates that our perception of the world is distorted and that our personal and professional lives won't crash if we prioritise our projects. Since I read this book, I have tried to apply the main concept and must admit that it works.

4 - SuperLife - Darin Olien - Netflix series with a purpose

For once, I did not find this book through a friend's recommendation or magazines but thanks to Netflix. Yup, that's right! I stumbled open the docuseries staring Zac Efron (who I discovered as being a really nice and genuine guy, so far from the image of Teens idol he has since the mid 2000s!). In "Down to Earth" Zac Efron and Darin Olien scout the world to discover some of the healthiest food on the planet. They taste the food and record - and sometimes challenge - the benefits it has on the locals. This book is the complement to this program and goes deeper into some of the topics. I really enjoyed it and it confirmed that Broccoli - that I absolutely love to eat - is the best super food!

5 - The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas - A modern adventure novel written nearly 180 years ago

My first impression when I read "Monte Cristo" was that it was impossible it had been published for the first time in 1844! It tells the story of Edmond Dantes and how the desire for vengeance can fuel an entire life of adventures, seduction and conspiracy. Beyond the amazing story (partly inspired by true events), what strikes me, every time I read it, is how modern this book is. It's fast paced, very cinematographic, ruthless and ultimately what nowadays we call a page turner. If you can read it in French then you will be fascinated by how modern the language is and how - already - English words were distilled in the middle of classic French. It's a masterpiece.