Many of us consider making and consuming art to be a hobby, or even a luxury. But what if art could help you live longer – and even save your life? In her book Art Cure, Professor Daisy Fancourt, one of the world’s most cited scientists, talks to Daniel Hahn about the life-changing power of the arts, showing how engaging with the arts boosts wellbeing, protects against disease, and improves the functioning of every major organ in the body.

Daisy Fancourt is Professor Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, and Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She has published 300 scientific papers, won many academic prizes, and is listed as one of the most highly cited scientists in the world.

Daniel Hahn OBE is an award-winning writer, editor and translator with around 100 books to his name. His work has been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, and his authored books include The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature and Catching Fire: A Translation Diary.