Reading for pleasure

The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment

This Reading Agency document pulls together a range of research about the importance of “reading for pleasure”.

A Society of Readers

‘Demos carried out research over the summer of 2018 to assess the potential impact of reading on several great challenges of our time: loneliness, mental health problems, dementia and social (im)mobility’

Frequent readers make the best lovers, say dating-app users

Short piece in the Guardian, 28th April 2017, saying, ‘Heavy reading increases empathy – and makes users of dating sites more likely to click on your profile’.

The School That Got Teens Reading

Javone Prince visits Ripley Academy in Lancaster inspiring the school’s most reluctant readers to take the plunge and make reading for pleasure a habit for life. Originally broadcast on BBC2 October 2016.

Open Book: Why We Read

Mariella Frostrup and guests discuss why people read and the pleasure that this strange and solitary activity has given millions. She investigates the history of reading and the impact it has on people’s brains. BBC Radio4 August 2015.

MMU Bibliophiles Book Club

Manchester Met staff book group meet four times a year. Everyone welcome!

Modern and Contemporary Gothic Reading Group

Reading group run by the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies - runs during the summer only.

Black Queer Book Club

The Black Queer book club is a reading group held on the last Thursday of every month for people who are both BAME/POC/Black and LGBT/Queer. The aim is to read literature that relates to our identities, meet new people and come together in a space that is designed just for us. It will be fun, relaxed and informative and members will be encouraged to express their thoughts on literature and life. Cheryl Martin ([email protected]) facilitates the group.

Reading Groups for Everyone

‘Reading Groups for Everyone’ celebrates reading groups across the UK and is run by the book-loving team at national charity, The Reading Agency

The Radio 2 Book Club

Every two weeks, Sara Cox and the team discuss a new book (joined by the author). Listeners are invited to help review the book. You can sign up to be one of the reviewers.

Bowie Book Club

Work your way through David Bowie’s favourite 100 books, with a different book chosen each month via Duncan Jones’ twitter feed @ManMadeMoon or via this tribute website.

Manchester Libraries can help you run your own reading group. Choose someone to be the reading group coordinator and they’ll be given an ‘Adult Bulk Loan’ ticket to borrow up to 6 copies of a book for your reading group to read. If you’d like to set up your own reading group this way, please email Tina Harrison at [email protected] for more information. Manchester Libraries also have some tips for setting up a virtual reading group and there are more suggestions from Reading Groups for Everyone.

More tips here too: Read Manchester guide.

Join, look for, reserve and renew

Manchester Public Libraries (MPL) comprises ​23 branches in total run by Manchester City Council, including the magnificent Central Library.

You will need to visit one of the MPL libraries in person to activate your membership.

Opening times and locations

BorrowBox for ebooks, audiobooks and magazines

You can read a huge variety of Manchester Public Libraries’ audio- and eBooks through the BorrowBox service. Simply download the BorrowBox app from your app store and start borrowing! You will need to join Manchester Public Libraries in order to use BorrowBox.