The Impact of Reading English-Language Books on Mental Health: A Narrative Review of Therapeutic Benefits, Genres, and Formats

Mental health problems are a growing public health concern, and there is increasing interest in low-cost, non-pharmacological supports such as reading. This narrative review synthesises empirical and conceptual literature on how reading books, with particular attention to English-language texts, relates to mental health and psychological well-being. Evidence is organised around four themes: emotional benefits (stress relief and mood), cognitive functioning, social cognition and empathy, and creativity and self-change. The review then examines therapeutic uses of reading, including bibliotherapy and shared reading; the differing roles of fiction, self-help books, memoirs and poetry; and the influence of reading format (print, e-book, audiobook). The reviewed studies indicate that reading is associated with improved mood, better cognitive and social outcomes and longer survival, and that guided bibliotherapy can reduce depressive symptoms. However, causal evidence is often limited: effects on social cognition are small, a prominent experiment on literary fiction has not replicated, evidence on poetry and audiobooks is thin, and little research has examined whether findings hold for people who read in English as an additional language. Practical implications for clinicians, educators and librarians are discussed, particularly for settings such as Pakistan where mental health services are stretched, and priorities for future research are proposed.