Books as Medicine: Deep Reading, Bibliotherapy and the Future of Reading
In an age dominated by rapid content consumption, where attention is measured in seconds and books often yield to digital summaries, a quiet revolution is taking place. It stems from the heart of bibliotherapy – the deliberate use of books to heal, to transform, and to empower. Dr Wanda Matras-Mastalerz, a Polish literary scholar and bibliotherapist, has been a long-time consultant to the British Library’s “Reading Well Books on Prescription” programme. She has observed that “stories contained in books are mirrors in which we can see ourselves” (Czwarty Wymiar, 2025). Her work highlights how reading, especially when deep and reflective, becomes a tool for self-care and insight.
The Healing Power of the Page
Bibliotherapy is more than the therapeutic reading of sacred texts. It refers to structured reading aimed at changing behaviour and supporting emotional healing through the written word. Although Poland does not yet formally recognise bibliotherapy as a professional discipline, twelve countries – including the United Kingdom – have institutionalised the practice through initiatives like “Reading Well Books on Prescription”. This programme, launched in England in 2013 by The Reading Agency and Libraries Connected with support from Arts Council England, provides curated reading lists endorsed by health professionals. It supports individuals in managing health and well-being through recommended self-help books, which are freely available in public libraries. Books may be suggested by health professionals or borrowed directly by library users (Reading Agency, n.d.).
Genres of Healing
Not all books in these therapeutic lists are explicitly medical. In fact, selections range from scientific and popular science works on mental health, through practical self-help guides, to fictional stories aimed at children, adolescents, adults and seniors. The therapeutic effects are categorised into four types: sedative (soothing), stimulative (motivating and activating), problematica (thought-provoking), and sacrum – books that resonate deeply with the inner life of the reader. These latter texts may not be religious, but they hold a sacred personal meaning. They act as catalysts for change, reflection, and transformation.
Anthony de Mello’s Awareness and Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves are cited as powerful examples of books in the sacrum category. Yet, many scholars note that therapeutic narratives need not be confined to print. Films, plays, and oral storytelling may also serve a similar healing function when they evoke resonance and insight.
“stories contained in books are mirrors in which we can see ourselves”
Dr Wanda Matras-Mastalerz
Narrative Structures and Therapeutic Impact
One of the enduring attractions of novels lies in their use of universal narrative structures – or top plots – that resonate deeply with human experience. These core plots include archetypal journeys such as overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, comedy, tragedy, rebirth, and voyage and return. The idea was notably popularised by Christopher Booker in The Seven Basic Plots (2004), where he argues that all stories follow these fundamental patterns. Further contributions to understanding plot typology have been made by Ronald B. Tobias in 20 Master Plots (1993), and by Georges Polti’s earlier work The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations (1916). These structures help explain why certain stories have a transformative impact: they mirror life’s own psychological and developmental trajectories, thus enhancing the therapeutic potential of reading fiction.
Reading as Simulation and Reflection
Speed reading blogs often focus on productivity – reading more, faster. Yet, bibliotherapy highlights a deeper dimension: reading not to escape life, but to encounter it more fully. As literary theorist Jean Baudrillard suggested in Simulacra and Simulation, reality and representation are not so easily separated. Reading fiction, then, is not a retreat from reality but a way of simulating it with emotional safety. Novels can serve as rehearsals for real-life complexity, preparing readers for ambiguity, compassion, and choice.
Neuroscience and Emotional Resonance in Bibliotherapy
Neuroscience corroborates the transformative potential of bibliotherapy. Functional MRI scans reveal that when we read stories, our brains simulate experiences as if we were living them ourselves. The same neural circuits light up when we read about an action, such as running, as when we perform it. This phenomenon – known as embodied simulation – implies that reading deeply is a form of mental training and empathy building (Mar, Oatley, & Djikic, 2008).
Implications for Speed Reading
The implications for speed reading are profound. While it enables readers to manage information efficiently, it must be counterbalanced with intentional moments of slower, deeper engagement – particularly when the text serves a personal or therapeutic function. A hybrid approach is best: scan broadly when needed, but slow down and savour when resonance occurs. Deep reading engages the brain differently, nurturing introspection, empathy, and neuroplasticity (Wolf, 2018).
A useful guide for those seeking to optimise their reading practices is Speed Reading Faster by Jan Cisek and Susan Norman (2025). The book introduces practical frameworks for balancing speed with comprehension and includes techniques to prime the subconscious and unconscious mind – a method particularly valuable when engaging with emotionally resonant or complex materials. It positions speed reading not merely as a tool for productivity, but also as a means to facilitate meaningful and transformative encounters with text.
To use speed reading effectively in this context:
- Preview the book for overall structure and emotional cues.
- Prioritise texts with emotional or existential depth for full, immersive reading.
- Prime Use pre-reading strategies to mentally and emotionally prepare the subconscious mind.
- Pause during reading to reflect, journal, or discuss insights.
- Process by summarising, relating to your own experience, or applying insights creatively.
The Future of Reading
As reading continues to evolve in the digital age, the integration of bibliotherapy and speed reading techniques offers a powerful model for future literacy and well-being. With increasing global interest in mental health and personal growth, we may expect a growing emphasis on curated reading for emotional development, resilience, and self-reflection. Initiatives like “Reading Well Books on Prescription” exemplify this trend, demonstrating how structured literary engagement can complement therapeutic practices. As artificial intelligence and digital platforms become more prominent, personalised reading recommendations and immersive reading environments may further enhance the accessibility and psychological benefits of reading.
Conclusion: Books as Mirrors
Books on prescription exemplify what bibliophiles have always known: reading can heal. They offer mirrors in which we can see ourselves, others, and the human condition more clearly. In this light, reading becomes a sacred act – not only of acquiring knowledge, but of deepening the soul.
For speed reading practitioners, this is a call not just to read more, but to read wisely. To remember that sometimes, the words we skim might be the very ones our hearts need to absorb.
References
Baudrillard, J. (1994). Simulacra and Simulation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Booker, C. (2004). The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. London: Continuum.
Cisek, J., & Norman, S. (2025). Speed Reading Faster. London: Watkins Books.
Estés, C. P. (1992). Women Who Run with the Wolves. New York: Ballantine Books.
de Mello, A. (1990). Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality. New York: Doubleday.
Mar, R. A., Oatley, K., & Djikic, M. (2008). Effects of reading on knowledge, social abilities, and selfhood. Scientific Study of Literature, 1(1), 1–20.
Matras-Mastalerz, W. (2025). Interview on bibliotherapy. Czwarty Wymiar, 1/2025, 62–63.
Polti, G. (1916). The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Boston: The Writer.
Reading Agency. (n.d.). Reading Well Books on Prescription. Retrieved from https://readingagency.org.uk/get-reading/our-programmes-and-campaigns/reading-well/
Tobias, R. B. (1993). 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books.
Wolf, M. (2018). Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World. New York: Harper.