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“The (person) who doesn’t read has no advantage over the (person) who can’t read”

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For the past few years, I have patients coming in for their annual well woman exam asking me for suggestions of books they should read by the time they come back for their next well woman exam. I am usually able to suggest about one to two books. The only problem is that we never get a chance to discuss much about the books other than they were a good read. So, I was really excited when I finally had a chance to dissect a book with a group of lovely women.

Last weekend I participated in a book club. I was invited two months prior and was told that the chosen book was The Hate U Give  by Angie Thomas. The person who hosted the event provided lunch and then we used a discussion guide that was developed by the host to review the book. The conversation was lively and it was great to hear the different points of view.

There are several health benefits to reading.  Reading can help decrease stress, help with sleep and boost brain capacity. It can help exercise your mind by helping to build vocabulary and memory. It is so important that we read and that we encourage our youth to read.  Our young people are more likely to read if they see the adults in their life reading.

What will I be recommending this year during the well woman exam?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (fiction) – A young woman who is between two worlds – the urban place where she lives and the suburban place where she goes to school. She witnesses the murder of her friend in her neighborhood and has to navigate through both worlds.

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond (nonfiction) – In a country as rich as ours, it walks us through how families end up homeless. I did not realize how significant the housing crisis was until I read this book.

Dreamland by Sam Quinones (nonfiction) – If you want to know how we got to the substance abuse crisis that is plaguing our country, then this is a must read.

Please note some of these books are on audio and you can check out e-books from the library.

FYI: June 27 is National HIV Testing Day – one in 7 people are not aware that they have HIV. Many people do not have symptoms. The only way to know that you have HIV is to get tested. If you are unable to visit your health care provider, you can go to your local health department to get free testing.