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Mind and Body Book Reccomendations:
1. Dopamine Nation
By Dr. Anna Lebke
This book explores addiction, and cravings, and offers insight into our consumption habits; explaining the neurological reasoning behind why we keep reaching for our phones to check social media and emails, and aimlessly wandering into our pantries. I enjoyed learning about the brain's chemistry and our modern need for instant gratification.
2. I'm Glad My Mom Died
By Jennette McCurdy
I was late to the game with this book; apparently, it was a best seller years back. Nonetheless, it has stood the test of time. Perhaps, in spite of or because of the garish title, I expected this book to be funny. It was. But it was also HEAVY. This memoir illuminates the suffering caused by mental illness, codependency, enmeshments, addiction, and eating disorders. I know that sounds like a lot, but I did not want to put it down.
3. Breath
By James Nestor
If you're a seasoned yogi like me breathing is nothing new. We spend a lot of time studying and practicing breath-work. We know the value of nasal breathing and the benefits of using the breath to regulate or nervous systems and steady our minds. This book however, provided numerous studies and an impressive amount of research supporting what the ancients have long known. I walked away with a deeper appreciation for pranayama.
4. Outlive
By Peter Attia MD
I first learned about this book on Armchair Expert, my favorite podcast. Dr. Attia is a leading physician in the field of longevity. Truthfully, much of this content felt too clinical to be considered leisurely reading, but I found the information fascinating. I highlighted applicable data throughout. The final chapter illustrates his personal journey. The book is worth getting for chapter 17 alone.
5. The Myth of Normal
By Gabor Mate MD
This is the most comprehensive book on mental health i've ever read. The author considers factors from the cellular to global/enviromental level. I learned about the root causes of ADHD and eating disorders. The book discusses cultural trauma, generational trauma, and captital T trauma (the obvious ones) as well as little t traumas (we’ve all experienced little t trauma). I can't lie, the first 300-400 pages were grim. But I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. The final 100 or so pages provide light in the form of optimism and solutions.
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