Book clubs make you healthier. According to Drs. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen in a recent Telegraph Herald "you docs" column, said that book clubs can boost your health in 5 ways: 1. reduce your stress level, 2. increase serotonin levels which makes you feel happier, 3. protect your heart, 4. grow brain connections, and 5. reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease. Book groups can make you feel six years younger. Wow, who knew? I love talking about books but I didn't know it could make me healthier. The doctors are telling us that making social connections helps us stay mentally alert and happier. We can even grow new brain cells to make us smarter at any age.
Case in point, last evening we had our All Iowa Reads book discussion at NICC/Peosta branch. Even though we were a very small group, we had a great, intellectually stimulating, and challenging discussion of Tracy Kidder's "Strength in What Remains." We all felt energized by talking about how we relate to the global human condition. You missed a good one!
But you have another chance. Dubuque County Library is going to start a regular book club this month! On Thursday, March 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta branch we will hold our organizational meeting. Come and help us decide what books we are going to read and when we want to meet. Hopefully, the bad weather will be past and everyone who is interested can attend.
An exciting family program is coming up very soon. What’s My Story? (Reflections on the Life and Writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder) will be presented by Sarah Uthoff, Humanities Iowa Scholar, on Friday, March 16th, 1:45 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta Branch Library. Sarah Uthoff is a regularly featured speaker at the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered Day at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch. She has also been featured at the Laura Ingalls Wilder: New Perspectives Conference and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Teacher Day, both sponsored by the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, SD. Sarah received both her history education BA and her Masters of Library Science from the University of Iowa. Sarah will share stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life and times. And audience members will be invited to pick one of Sarah’s artifacts and hear its story. There will be lots of opportunities for everyone to take part.
All area families are welcome to attend this free program. Please call any of the Dubuque County Library branches and reserve your spot for this exciting opportunity to learn about one of America’s most beloved authors. (Snow date: Friday, March 30th at 4 p.m.)
I hope everyone has a safe weekend. Talk to you next week. Dawn
No comments:
Post a Comment