The image of an open door graces the cover of Paula Munier’s latest writing book. It’s an invitation to learn and keep an open mind. It also reminds me of the proverbial door being slammed in a novelist’s face. “Competition is fierce—and that’s why your words must be fierce as well,” says Munier.

I read novels for pleasure. I consider it a bonus when a book also enlightens or offers advice. Indeed literature can empower readers to take positive actions, according to a recent study. 

The keys to healthy living and longevity may soon include read more books, judging by the results of a recent study. A research published in Social Science & Medicine shows a correlation between reading books and living longer. It compared people who did not read and those who read for up to three-and-a-half hours a week.

In the futuristic society depicted in “Fahrenheit 451,” books are illegal and intellectual pursuits are considered dangerous. A fireman like Guy Montag makes a full-time career out of burning books and the houses where they are hidden. “It was a pleasure to burn,” he says, after a productive day at work.

The increasing popularity of e-books has some people asking what makes a book a book? Is it the physical qualities of paper, ink, and binding or the content? It’s true that the book as we know it started with paper, namely the Codex, dating back to 4th century Greece. In its traditional form, a book is a book because of paper, type, and cover.

Literary Hub (LitHub) wants to be the Rotten Tomatoes for books. It recently launched Book Marks, which aggregates book reviews. Depending on your attitude, this is the latest sign of either our love affair with algorithm or overreliance on it.

Believe it or not, the Holy Bible was among the 10 most challenged books in 2015. The list, prepared annually by the American Library Association (ALA), also includes best-selling young adult and romance novels.

When someone takes your car without your consent, it’s called theft. But when Google digitized millions of books without getting permission from their authors and without paying for copyrighted material, it’s called public service, according to Richard Russo, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “Empire Falls.”

Absolutely! Celebrate moms everywhere with “Mother’s Day Magic,” a book collection of 12 new stories written by 13 authors from across the globe. Allyson R. Abbott spearheaded this project. “I love to buy books as presents. I wanted to find a book that would let my mom know how much I appreciate her,” she said.

What do you do when you’re stressed out? Do you binge-eat Twinkies or binge-watch Netflix? As for me, it’s neither. When my stress level is off the charts, there’s nothing that can comfort me like reading a kick-ass thriller.