“I really feel that reading opens up our minds – and our hearts – to other people, to other cultures and to our shared history as human beings”. – Commissioner Věra Jourová

As a European Commissioner, an essential part of my job involves reading a lot – briefings, speeches, and policy documents! However, my true passion lies in reading literature in my own mother tongue, Czech, but I am also fascinated and have a keen interest in international literature. I really feel that reading opens up our minds – and our hearts – to other people, to other cultures and to our shared history as human beings.

My favorite book at the moment is a book by an Irish author called Kevin Maher, entitled “The Fields”. This book made a very big impression on me. The reason for this is that I consider myself as being a pretty ‘hard’ woman, however, while reading this book I cried three times – once because of sadness, once because of anger, but also once because of joy! I highly recommend this book to all stale and worn souls!!

The busy lives that we all now seem to lead can sometimes leave us drained of energy and we say that we don’t have the time to read. We cannot let this happen! As well as opening up our minds, reading can so often be such a soothing way to unwind, not bombarding us with information or demanding something of us, but rather gently informing us, and at a pace that we ourselves have the freedom to decide. We must continue with this extremely important pursuit! – Commissioner Věra Jourová