Wellness
2023 Team Picks: Essential Reads for Health, Wellness, & Spirituality
Throughout 2023, our team read through numerous books that touched on various aspects of health, wellness, and spirituality. So, as we transition into the new year, we've compiled a list of our team’s most valued reads from the past year. Each book below was ranked top of the list from one of our team members, which is saying a lot considering how much we read, research, and learn over here.
Dive in and discover some good books that can benefit your own health journey moving forward.
Consciousness in a Nutshell by Jay Nelson and Lindy Nelson
Recommended by Dr. Mike Malin, Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer
"Consciousness in a Nutshell" delves deep into the realms of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy to explore the nature of consciousness. Set against the backdrop of a gripping psychological thriller, the narrative follows two neuropsychopharmacologists on the cusp of a major discovery, with one mysteriously disappearing and the other penning a desperate letter to a stranger, seeking a favor in exchange for his profound insights.
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Recommended by Bailey Moberly, Training Program Director
With great warmth and clarity, Tara Brach brings her teachings alive through personal stories and case histories, fresh interpretations of Buddhist tales, and guided meditations. Step by step, she shows us how we can stop being at war with ourselves and begin to live fully every precious moment of our lives.
Recommended by Michele Miller, Premium Health Coach
In "Outlive," Dr. Peter Attia presents a science-backed approach to longevity, emphasizing early interventions over late-stage treatments that often compromise the quality of life. Challenging mainstream medicine's approach to aging diseases, Attia promotes personalized strategies for physical, cognitive, and emotional health. The book offers insights into overlooked health indicators, the unparalleled benefits of exercise, personalized nutrition, and the integral role of emotional well-being in ensuring a longer, healthier life
Shoutout from Michele: “This is the only book I've read twice in a row, in my life. Once on paper and once on audio. There's just so much in it I felt like I needed to go back and try to absorb it again. It gets a gold medal from my perspective!”
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Recommended by Ariana Fiorita, Health Coach
"The Daily Stoic" provides a year's worth of Stoic wisdom, featuring translations from renowned Stoic figures and complemented by insightful commentary and a Greek terminology glossary. Through daily engagement, readers are guided towards a life of serenity, self-awareness, and resilience.
Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being by Neil Theise
Recommended by Dr. Mike Stone, Chief Education Officer & Premium Physician
Notes on Complexity" by Neil Theise delves into the intricate nature of life, drawing on complexity theory to illuminate the interconnectedness and holistic essence of existence, from micro to macro scales. Theise's exploration touches on diverse phenomena, emphasizing the universe's dynamic unity and encouraging a broader, interconnected understanding of life, consciousness, and the essence of being.
- Bonus: Listen to our podcast episode here with the author.
Recommended by Steve Weatherholt, Health Coach
Dale Bredesen's "The End of Alzheimer's" provides a revolutionary protocol to combat Alzheimer's by addressing 36 metabolic factors, showing significant cognitive improvements in patients. The book shifts the conventional understanding of the disease, offering practical lifestyle modification strategies for prevention and reversal.
Shoutout from Steve: “Cognitive decline runs in my family and a lot of patients are interested in brain health so this was a good educational read for sure!”
The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
Recommended by Ed Gelman, VP of Data Science
In "The Art of Living," Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh introduces seven transformative meditations, grounded in both Buddha's teachings and his own life experiences, to guide individuals in understanding themselves and the world. Emphasizing living mindfully and embracing life's challenges, including aging and dying, the book provides insights on achieving happiness, understanding, and love, encouraging a deep presence in each moment.
The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese
Recommended by Dr. Jeff Graham
The Covenant of Water" by Abraham Verghese is a sweeping novel set in Kerala from 1900 to 1977, tracing three generations of a family plagued by a unique curse of drownings in a region surrounded by water. Centered around the life of Big Ammachi, who marries at twelve, the story is a rich tapestry of India's changing landscape, the evolution of medicine, and the enduring power of faith and love, showcasing the sacrifices made by preceding generations for the present.
Shoutout from Jeff: “Beautifully written, multiple medical references (he is a physician at Stanford), and a wonderful lesson in Indian history of the 20th century.”
The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
Recommended by Trei Trackett, Director of Health Coaching
Boyd Varty's book draws parallels between the ancient art of lion tracking and the quest for a purposeful life. Using his experiences as a lion tracker in the South African bush, Varty offers insights on how to tune into one's senses, environment, and inner desires to lead a life of fulfillment and deeper understanding, emphasizing the journey over the destination and highlighting the importance of being alert and present
Shoutout from Trei: “The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life, it's a very quick read or listen if you prefer audio books. It was so impactful I read it twice within a 2 week span, there are so many life lessons and innate human aspects within this book. In modern life it's easy to let the joy of each day be diminished by the race to the "end". This book really put life in perspective and allowed me to re-evaluate my priorities this year.”
Living Untethered by Michael Singer
Recommended by Naush Godrej, Health Coach
In "Living Untethered," Michael A. Singer, the acclaimed author of "The Untethered Soul," offers a transformative guide emphasizing the importance of inner exploration for genuine happiness. Challenging the reliance on external factors for contentment, Singer provides practical advice to transcend limiting thoughts and emotions, heal past wounds, and harness one's natural energy. This guide is a call to liberate oneself from psychological constraints and embrace a life of serenity, understanding, and true self-awareness.
Shoutout from Naush: “It's a helpful and practical companion book to applying concepts from his book The Untethered Soul. He offers ways we can deal with triggering thoughts and emotions in order to live more fully and at ease.”
The Anti-Hero's journey by Ben Askins
Recommended Julia Priest, Director of Health Coaching
"Anti-Hero's Journey" offers a stark counter-narrative to Joseph Campbell's iconic Hero’s Journey, introducing readers to the Zeromyth: a journey that goes beyond traditional heroics and ventures into a realm of disillusionment and self-negation. Captain Ben "Doc" Askins, a unique blend of erudite scholar, elusive artist, and dark humorist, serves as the guide, challenging conventional narratives and presenting a perspective where the protagonist neither gains nor imparts wisdom. This memoir, marked by wit and introspection, delves into the complexities of enlightenment and the paradoxes of existence.
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