What if playing the piano, dancing, visiting art galleries or even lying in the mud listening to Wolf Alice at Glastonbury was good for the body, mind and longevity? Or what if it could help us develop brain resilience against dementia? That’s just part of the tantalising, ambitious pitch by Daisy Fancourt in her new book. In theory, she’s well-placed to make the case as a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London and director of the WHO’s arts and health initiative. British TV doctor Xand van Tulleken is calling it an “amazing antidote” to the “deluge of nonsense” we’re given daily about how to live better. A licence to have fun – what’s not to love?