Fitness is really all about M O V I N G but wellness has many components, most which can be learned through reading and then put into action.
I love to read. I especially love to read about new and different things that could improve my life. If the ideas make sense to me, I will try to incorporate them into my daily life.
With that in mind, why not read something about wellness this summer that could make a difference in the way you live, move, and think? I have read all of the books below and in addition, they are all respected authors and often quoted in the world of fitness and health.
Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia MD
This is the book everyone in the fitness, wellness and longevity space is talking about. This book has almost 500 pages, but when I saw people (and I mean many) on airplanes, by hotel pools and even on St Barth’s beaches, lugging it around, I knew I had to learn more about it.
If you want to find out how to live better longer, this is THE BOOK. Attia shares in an informative, clear and concise way what you need to know about blood work, cholesterol, exercise, dementia, strength, nutrition, sleep and much more.
The Miracle of Flexibility by Miranda Esmonde-White (of the long running PBS show)
Flexibility is the ability to move, stand, lean, reach and stretch. It won’t matter if you live to 110 because without flexibility you are going nowhere. If you want to keep moving for life, this is the book for you. It incorporates workouts that engage 650 muscles and 360 joints in your body with an emphasis on stretching and moving your full body.
Aging Backwards: Fast Track by Miranda Esmonde-White
Another good book by Esmonde-White, she describes it as a fast track 30 day plan for healthy aging. With the end goal of improved posture, better balance, supple joints, increased flexibility, and clearer thinking, this is a program you will likely continue even though it is described as a 30 day workout.
The XX Brain The Groundbreaking Science Empowering
Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Altzheimer’s Disease by Dr Lisa Mosconi. The female brain is decidedly different from the male brain but until recently it had received very little attention on its own and rarely studied. The XX chromosomal factor makes women’s health issues quite different from men’s. Dr. Mosconi addresses all issues of women’s health and the female brain including brain fog, memory, depression, stress, insomnia and hormones. This is a must read for every female and everyone who knows a female and cares about their brain health.
Successful Aging by John Rowe MD Robert Kalin PHD
(This is considered the bible of healthy aging by functional aging specialists in the fitness industry) Bottom line, learn how the way you live, not the genes you were born with, determines your health and vitality. Discover how the lifestyle choices you can make now will affect the rest of your life.
Oh, if you want to just want to experience a fun summer book, you must read “The Marriage Sabbatical” by the amazing Lian Dolan. (Or any of her other books “Lost and Found in Paris” “The Sweeney Sisters” “Helen of Pasadena” and “Elizabeth the First Wife”.
What have been some of your favorite summer reads? Please share in the comments below.
