reading, wellness, science, research, books, book club, inspiration, november, fall reads,

The Gist: Harvard public health researcher Catherine Carver draws on everything from ancient Egyptian medical texts to cutting-edge science for this fascinating look at our immune system. She explores its role in battling the common cold and cancer to even falling in love.


The Gist: Paul Owen, who has completed over 50 marathons and ultramarathons, celebrates the sport with this entertaining compendium of facts, figures, and profiles of the world’s greatest runners, including the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides and the Buckeye Bullet. Extreme athletes, pay attention: Owen devotes a chapter to “mad, bad and dangerous races” such as the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara desert.


The Gist: Here’s a diet book like no other. Aaron Carroll, a physician and regular contributor to the Upshot column of the New York Times, wades through often oversimplified food rules to show how some items with a bad rep—red meat, salt, even MSG—need not be avoided, and offers plenty of science to back it all up.

The Gist: Banal black bean burgers, step aside. Chef and wellness expert Matthew Kenney elevates the art of plant-based cuisine with this stunning tome geared towards “serious foodies and chefs.” You’ll find 100-plus vegan recipes, including sweet potato poutine with shiitake bacon, butternut squash tagliatelle, and more. 


The Gist: This new book explores how the array of microbes in the gut affect psychological well-being. Citing case studies and original scientific research, the authors discuss the ins and outs of how psychobiotic supplements—a subset of probiotics—and diet improvements can boost and ultimately rebuild the gut to improve mood, cognitive ability, and even memory.


5 books high performers should read this month

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