“Outlive” author Peter Attia, who wrote one of the best health and wellness books, speaks during the … More
Everyone wants to feel their best, and many people see a direct link between that and health and wellness. Improving your health almost always betters your well-being, with the best health and wellness books providing the framework, tips and real-world know-how that you need to succeed. Some may be pursuing mental health solutions and looking for ways to navigate difficult situations or address struggles such as depression or lack of self confidence. Others may focus on physical wellness, wanting to clean up their diets or start or ramp up an exercise program. The health and wellness books on this list can help anyone reach their goals.
Top Books About Wellness
Wellness is the intersection of physical, emotional and spiritual health. It is important because those things impact our daily lives in so many ways and can affect our happiness and will to push through tough circumstances.
Health and wellness can be physical, such as reaching an optimal weight. They can be mental, such as building resiliency or navigating a mental illness. And they can be spiritual, such as finding ways to appreciate and give thanks for everything around you. Many self help books address health and wellness issues because they present strategies and approaches to physical, emotional and spiritual self-improvement. These rankings are based on critical acclaim, book sales and social influence.
10. The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell (2006)
One of the most famous nutrition books ever written, The China Study examines the connection between what we eat and disease. Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s research looks at the causes behind heart disease, diabetes and cancer and shows how a more common-sense approach to diet emphasizing plants can be beneficial.
This book is best for those who want to reduce their risk of disease. T. Colin Campbell’s The China Study is available from publisher BenBella Books.
9. The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende
Acclaimed novelist Isabel Allende considers her own life in this memoir that addresses mental health and resiliency. She shows how personality traits built when she was a child helped her through three marriages, and she also opens up about sex—another aspect of wellness. Allende challenges women to “light the way” for the next generation.
This book is best for women looking to strengthen their mental health. Isabel Allende’s The Soul of a Woman is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Isabel Allende, the literary legend, social activist and feminist icon speaks on stage during the … More
8. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker (2017)
Sleep is an often-overlooked yet critical element of wellness. Over the past two decades, new research has made a case for why humans need sleep to thrive. When you get your shut-eye, your brain recalibrates your emotions and your nervous and immune systems. Sleep is tied to better cognitive and physical function.
This book is best for those who don’t get eight hours a night. Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.
7. Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders (2018)
No one understands the human gut better than physician Giulia Enders, whose New York Times bestseller explores the connection between digestive health and full-body wellness. She looks at what it really means to be lactose or gluten intolerant and how the gut impacts obesity and even depression.
This book is best for those who want to add a mental aspect to a weight loss journey. Giulia Enders’s Gut is available from publisher Greystone Books.
6. In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan (2009)
Many of us think of food as pleasurable, and it can be. But what if we thought about it more as fuel and focused on making nutritional choices to enrich and invigorate our bodies? That’s the premise of Michael Pollan’s bestseller, which traces how Americans became unhealthy despite a national obsession with diet.
This book is best for those considering a change in lifestyle, such as going vegan. Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
5. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger (2015)
Another nutrition book advocating for smarter approaches to diet, How Not to Die delves into the 15 most common causes of premature death in the U.S., including cancer and diabetes. Michael Greger argues for food vs. pharmaceutical interventions while explaining that treating acute illnesses often takes precedent over preventing chronic disease.
This book is best for those who want to learn about the concept of food as medicine. Michael Greger’s How Not to Die is available from publisher Macmillan.
4. Black Rainbow: How Words Healed Me, My Journey Through Depression by Rachel Kelly (2015)
Journalist Rachel Kelly had two major breakdowns within a six-year span. During her recovery and her subsequent struggles with depression and anxiety, she learned that reading poetry could help her through bad times. This fascinating book shows the ways she used poetry in recovery and also addresses stigmas about mental illness.
This book is best for those looking for different approaches to treating mental illness. Rachel Kelly’s Black Rainbow is available from publisher Hachette Australia.
3. Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey (2022)
Hustle culture is not healthy, and wellness must by definition include respite. The Nap Mission founder Tricia Hersey argues that heralding productivity as the key to success is damaging. She instead encourages assigning value to humanity and pushing back on a system that leaves little room for rest. Hersey is a great storyteller, too.
This book is best for anyone who feels exhausted. Tricia Hersey’s Rest Is Resistance is available from publisher Hachette.
Ruth Reichl, Tricia Hersey, Ania Trzebiatowska and Adrian Tomine speak during the 2023 Sundance Film … More
2. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk (2015)
Recovering from trauma takes a toll on our bodies. Bessel van der Kolk, an expert on trauma, presents evidence of how traumatic events can change the body and brain and impact capacity for self-control. Then he offers an overview of treatments that can help in recovery. The body has an incredible capacity to heal.
This book is best for those looking for ways to deal with trauma. Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
1. Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia (2023)
Get healthy, live longer? The idea tracks, according to Peter Attia, whose Outlive has sold more than two million copies. He challenges mainstream thinking, arguing that traditional medicine is too reactionary and that prevention is the key to longevity. He covers everything from how exercise is beneficial to why doctor’s office tests should go further.
This book is best for those not looking for quick fixes who want to extend their long-term health. Peter Attia’s Outlive is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Bottom Line
Whether you want to learn proven ways to lower your blood sugar, fight depression or live to 100, these powerful books about health and wellness can give you a blueprint and inspiration in your fight. Dig in and start improving your life.
