One of them holds the secrets to a happy relationship.
Being up to date on all things health and wellness is social and cultural currency these days. And while quick-hit news bites are great, in-depth reads are still a worthy pursuit. Many non-fiction books come out every month, though, and it can feel overwhelming to cut through the clutter. That’s why we started the Furthermore book club. Here, our choices for this month plus, an editor’s fiction pick.
The book: 100 Dives of a Lifetime
The gist: This aspirational travel book uses impressive underwater photography to explore the world’s bucket-list diving destinations. Locations include South Africa’s Aliwal Shoal, the site of millions of migratory sardines, and the ice floes of Antarctica, a popular swimming area for penguins.
The book: Eight Dates
The gist: In a now-famous study of 130 newlywed couples at the University of Washington’s “love lab,” psychologist John Gottman predicted with 94 percent accuracy who would stay married and who would eventually divorce. Drawing on forty years of relationship research, this new book by Gottman and clinical psychologist Julie Schwartz Gottman (they’re husband and wife) outlines eight essential conversations—each one revolving around a “big” topic like sex or money—that can help couples navigate love.
The book: Good to Go
The gist: As a former national collegiate cycling champion and elite cross-country skier, Christie Aschwanden is well-versed in pushing her training to the limit. In her first book, the FiveThirtyEight science writer and former Washington Post health columnist delves into the buzzy topic of sports recovery. She guides readers on the science behind foam rollers and cryotherapy, what Tom Brady gets right and wrong about sleep, and the single best metric of recovery and how to measure it.
The book: Brave, Not Perfect
The gist: In Reshma Saujani’s popular 2016 TED Talk, the CEO and Founder of Girls Who Code made the case that because girls are often raised to be perfect and play it safe, they grow into women who are afraid to take risks. In her new book, she offers insights and tips for choosing bravery over perfection to live a bolder, more fulfilling life.
The book: Dinner for Everyone
The gist: There are few food writers as prolific as Mark Bittman. His “Minimalist” column ran in the New York Times’s Dining section for 13 years and his 17,000 recipes can be found in 21 books. In his latest, he focuses on 100 classic dinner dishes remade in three categories: weeknight-friendly (including hearty soups and tacos), vegan (think: pomegranate-glazed eggplant and mushroom ragu), and entertaining-appropriate (like handmade pasta and Thanksgiving classics).
Editor’s fiction pick: The Lost Night
The gist: In this debut novel by veteran journalist Andrea Bartz, Edie, a recent college graduate, is found dead with a suicide note at the end of a drunken night out. Years later, her best friend Lindsay discovers a video from the fateful evening and begins to wonder if, in fact, Edie was murdered. Through Lindsay’s subsequent investigation into the past, Bartz crafts a narrative filled with suspense and psychological drama.