Now more than ever before we need that mood booster. With Coronavirus or COVID-19 bringing our lives to a standstill, there aren’t any options of hanging out with friends at the coffee shop or treating yourself to some retail therapy or book a relaxing massage. Let’s face it, our daily lives look duller than they did few days ago. In the current trying times, there’s nothing like a comforting good read. Especially those books that teach you resilience, tell you how to work on reducing stress levels and anxiety, increase productivity, show you how to form stronger and meaningful relationships and most importantly stay happy. Here are five books that will pep you up and brighten your days.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to Long and Happy Life

The book decodes the Japanese concept of Ikigai, the art of leading a happy and long life. Authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles travel to the Japanese Island of Okinawa, which has the largest population of centenarians in the world to find out the reason behind their longevity. They compile their findings in a gripping book that explains how having a purpose in life and staying active can lead to a happy and long life. The book puts together diets, exercises and interviews with the centenarians in lucid, easy prose. It makes for a light yet informative read.

Hector and the Search for Happiness

The book by Francois Lelord traces the journey of a young psychiatrist called Hector as he tries to understand what makes people happy and what doesn’t. Hector embarks on a trip around the world…he travels from Paris to China to Africa to the United States, and along the way he makes notes of his experiences and the people he meets. The book turns Hector’s observations and solutions into a maudlin self-help guide. Written in a fluid and coherent manner, the book presents facts in a fictional premise.

The Power of Positive Thinking

This is just what you need as you spend days in uncertainty, confined in your home. Norman Vincent Peale, a clergyman, wrote this book, wherein he combines the power of faith with modern medicine and psychological counselling. First published in 1952, the book has sold over 15 million copies since then. Peale stresses on the power of prayers and belief. He enumerates how negative thoughts and anxiety stop you from leading a joyful life. This classic self help book sure makes for a good bedtime read.

The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a research psychologist and University of California professor of psychology draws from her extensive to come up with an effective and easy to follow plan to be happier in our day-to-day lives. The book dissects the different elements of happiness  and tells readers how to work towards getting a life they have envisioned for themselves. She puts forth several happiness-increasing strategies that introduce you to practicing optimism and savoring the little joys of life. In the process she also demystifies the many myths that serve as an obstacle to your pursuit of happiness.

Authentic Happiness

Written by psychologist and bestselling author Martin Seligman, the book sets about to explain that happiness is not the result of good genes or luck. Focusing on one’s strengths can be a game changer. The realization about what you are good at it and how to harness it can improve all aspects of your life. Seligman lists practical exercises, brief tests and a website program that can help you identify your biggest strengths and use them in ways you haven’t done before.