Reading Changes Your Brain's Focus

Written By Dr. Mark L. Meyer

In my visits with patients, the subject of sleep (now known as “sleep hygiene”) has come up many times. The rituals that we engage in often determine the quality of our sleep, and future blogs will address this. One of the pieces of advice that I always give is to read a book in bed with a cup of herbal tea (hot drinks relax the body). While everyone’s taste in books varies, I thought I would give some of the books I have read recently. Books change your brain’s focus, and as reading is an active activity, it requires complete engagement, separating your day from your night. These are in no order, and are of varied genres:

  • The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (one of the best books I have ever read)

  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

  • All of the novels and short stories of Elizabeth Strout—she is simply an amazing writer (and a lovely person)

  • The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland (an easy read, written by my sister-in-law)

  • The Robert Galbraith Mysteries: Cormoran Strike Book Series by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling)

  • The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

  • The Night Singer and The Shadow Lily by Johanna Mo

  • The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

  • The Rise of David Levitsky by Abraham Cahan

  • Zabar’s: A Family Story by Lori Zabar

  • Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

  • Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams

  • The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

  • The early books of Louise Penny

  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

  • The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger

  • The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin


Happy reading!

Dr. Meyer

This might be a good opportunity to combine your reading with some exercise while you hunt down some good reads. New York City still has a number of celebrated independent booksellers in all boroughs. Use the list below to find the one near you.

12+ Great NYC Booksellers - Oct. 2022 - NewYorkSimply
New York's Great Independent Booksellers - Aug. 2022 - Thrillist
10 Best Independent Book Stores In NYC - Mr. Hudson Explores

Dr. Mark L. Meyer

Dr. Meyer graduated from Haverford College with a Bachelor of Science, High Honors, in cellular and molecular biology, Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude. He attended the Yale University School of Medicine, where he also completed a categorical residency in Internal Medicine, served for one year as an Emergency Department attending physician, and held the title of Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery. During this time, Dr. Meyer obtained a J.D. from the Yale Law School, concentrating on medical ethics, scientific research law, and FDA law. He then completed a fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained Level 3 Nuclear Cardiology training.

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