Revisit a Favorite Novel

Quick Win

Reading is good for your brain — and rereading can offer a fresh perspective.

Try This Today

• Visit your mental library. Reflect on your all-time favorite novels or short-story collections — the ones that moved you, made you laugh, taught you something profound or simply delighted you.
• Pick one to reread. Pull out your old copy if it’s on your bookshelves; if not, borrow a copy from the library or a friend, or buy a new one.
• Savor the story. Take your time reading, reflecting on the story itself and your experience of reading it. Were there plot twists you’d forgotten about? Did you notice new details? Has your perspective on the characters changed? Any fresh insights? How have you and your life changed since your first time reading the book?
• Share the wealth! If you’re in a book group, suggest that each member choose a favorite novel for everyone to read (or reread) and discuss.

Why

Getting lost in a novel can be a delightful, mind-expanding experience — and rereading old favorites can lead to self-discoveries and insights. Research suggests that reading fiction can expand perspective and increase empathy, as reported in a 2018 review of 14 studies published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Reading may also protect brain health, according to a 14-year study of almost 2,000 people 64 and older in Taiwan. That report, published in International Psychogeriatrics in 2020, linked more frequent reading with a lower risk of cognitive decline.