How Books Can Change Your Life and THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick
- Marisa Gelfand
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
Margaret never imagined she would become her mother. She’d envisioned an independent and fulfilling life. Yet, at thirty-three, it seemed inevitable for women like her to follow in their mothers' footsteps: caring for husbands and children, sacrificing careers and passions, and placing their desires last.
Everything shifted when Margaret read The Feminine Mystique. The book—an expression of the frustration of a generation of women—lit a fire in her. It was more than a reflection of her struggles; it was a call to action.
Inspired, Margaret began chasing her dream of becoming a writer. She also worked with her husband, a flawed yet loving man, to build a partnership of equals. The book mirrored Margaret’s feelings and ignited the courage for her to say, "I’m a person. I deserve a life."
Books can change our lives.
Bibliotherapy is the practice of reading to support mental health. Fiction helps readers step outside their perspective, experiencing the world as someone else. As readers connect with characters, they recognize themselves in the story. Through empathizing with characters and wanting them to succeed, readers extend that same compassion and hope to themselves.
This process is cathartic. Witnessing a character’s growth boosts a reader’s sense of self-efficacy. Bibliotherapy transforms reading from an escape into a tool for healing.
Here are tools for using books to change your life:
Identify: Find a character you can relate to—someone who shares your struggles, mindset, or aspirations. This connection bridges your experiences and the story.
Experience: While reading, allow yourself to experience the character's emotions, challenges, hopes, growth, and catharsis from a place of safety as an outside reader.
Insight: Seek parallels between the character’s journey and situation and your own. Notice the lessons and strategies they employ, and consider how you can apply these insights to your own life.
Universalize: You’re not alone. There’s a book about someone like you navigating similar struggles. Others have walked this path too. Like the character and countless others, you will find a way to thrive.
