Can Reading Make You Happier? is an editorial by Ceirdwen Dovey, a South African and Australian social anthropologist and
author. In her piece she talks about the healing effects of bibliotherapy,
the use of books as therapy to cure mental or psychological disorders and
the history of this form of therapy. Dovey's purpose for writing this
essay is to show the healing effects of bibliotherapy and how literature
can help you move forward from your troubles, she most effectively
uses anecdotes to show this purpose. In her essay she describes her
trouble time dealing with her future loss of
the ones she loved, this causes Dovey to invest in bibliotherapy. Where her "prescription"
from her therapist was to read "“The Guide,” by R. K.
Narayan. Berthoud wrote that it was “a lovely story about a man who starts his
working life as a tourist guide at a train station in Malgudi, India, but then
goes through many other occupations before finding his unexpected destiny as a
spiritual guide.” She had picked it because she hoped it might leave me feeling
“strangely enlightened.” (3). By uses anecdotes of her experiences with
bibliotherapy not only builds up her ethos but helps to prove her purpose. That
she healed and was able to move past her struggles by using the art of reading. That can reading can make you happier. This not only connecting with her audience, people in need
of psychological help, but adds to the new therapy’s credibility. Showing that
the power of literature was able to heal someone. Overall Covey writes a
compelling piece that shows the new found power of literature and how it is
truly helping others.
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