Including a neuroscience bootcamp to strengthen your focus and decision-making
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 picks for January.
The book: The Passion Economy
By: Adam Davidson
The gist: Cofounder of NPR's Planet Money podcast and a staff writer at The New Yorker, Adam Davidson explores the way in which people can combine their passions with their careers. He shares accounts of this in action: a father creating a better chocolate bar for his children, a frustrated accountant working to change his industry, and more. Davidson offers a roadmap and "ground rules" for this new economy along with strategies for success.
The book: Cauliflower Power
By: Lindsay Grimes Freedman
The gist: After her husband was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Lindsay Grimes Freedman started researching healthy, low-glycemic ways to reinvent the classic dishes he loved. Nearly a decade later, the former attorney-turned-food blogger has become one of cauliflower’s biggest proselytizers. Her first cookbook shows the vegetable's versatility in enticing (and unexpected) recipes like vanilla waffles and garlic and herb gnocchi.
The book: The Impossible First
By: Colin O’Brady
The gist: In 2008, Colin O’Brady suffered a devastating injury and was told he might never walk normally again. Ten years later, he became the first person to trek solo across Antarctica. O’Brady details his inspiring journey from physical therapy to reaching the summits of Denali and Everest, and finally, his milestone 932-mile trek through whiteouts, storms, and sub-zero temperatures.
The book: Brain Wash
By: David Perlmutter, MD, and Austin Perlmutter, MD
The gist: New York Times bestselling author David Perlmutter and his son, Austin, explore how the infinite opportunities and instant gratifications of our modern-day tech-enabled age leave us more lonely, anxious, and depressed than ever before. The doctor duo present a 10-day, neuroscience-based bootcamp that purports to help readers restructure their brains and improve focus and decision-making.
The book: The Values Compass
By: Mandeep Rai, Ph.D
The gist: As a former broadcast journalist for the BBC World Service, Mandeep Rai traveled the globe covering topics like pollution in Ladakh and luxury goods trafficked into China. This, her first book, takes readers to 101 countries, highlighting a single core value from each and how you can apply them to your own life. American entrepreneurship, Armenian survival, and Estonian efficiency are among the topics.
The book: Kill Reply All
By: Victoria Turk
The gist: With sections like “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Your Inbox),” this new book by Wired’s Victoria Turk provides a friendly, Marie Kondo-esque roadmap for managing your digital life. Tips include paring down an unwieldy inbox and best practices for text messaging. It’s a must-read if solely for the playful glossary at the end, which defines everything from subtweeting to Rickrolling.