Topic: books

13 for ’13: Nontraditional Self-Help Books

13 for '13: Nontraditional Self-Help Books

In our continuing quest to provide you with new year’s inspiration, here’s a round-up of 13 nontraditional self-help books. If we lost you at “self-help”—wait! The emphasis is on the “nontraditional” here. There are no “skinny rules,” no dating rules, no rules at all, really, in our reading roundup. What you will find are serious, science-backed suggestions for self-improvement; tried and true time-management techniques; positive psychology; and a little bit of hippie-ing out. Hopefully, there’s something for everybody here — unless you’re a Rules girl. In that case, might we suggest you visit Cosmo? More »

The ‘Medication Generation’ Has Grown Up … Now What?

The 'Medication Generation' Has Grown Up ... Now What?

Are we ‘overmedicating’ today’s youth with Ritalin and Prozac? The issue routinely gets dredged up by parents and media outlets, but it’s hardly a new concern. In the 1980s and 1990s, kids and teens who in a previous generation may have received therapy (or gone untreated) began to routinely be prescribed psychotropic drugs–antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, mood stabilizers. It’s not uncommon for 20- and 30-somethings today to have spent the better part of their lives on such medications. Meanwhile, the consequences of their long-term use is virtually unknown. More »

Should You Wake A Sleepwalker? David K. Randall Answers Our Questions About Sleep

Should You Wake A Sleepwalker? David K. Randall Answers Our Questions About Sleep

For most of us, sleep is just that thing that happens between busy nights and even busier mornings. Sometimes, it’s that thing that we don’t get enough of. Most often, it’s that thing we think we can skip out on and still be fine (provided we get enough coffee). Journalist David K. Randall used to feel the same way–until a sleepwalking episode made him realize that there’s a lot we don’t know about our behavior during the wee hours. More »

Zoobiquity: How We Can Improve Health Care By Paying Closer Attention To Our Pets

Zoobiquity: How We Can Improve Health Care By Paying Closer Attention To Our Pets

If your dog’s vet and your OB/GYN got together, do you think they’d have much to talk about? They could probably share common ground on the obesity epidemic, which both people and our pets are struggling from. They may be able to talk about how both you and your canine companion are predisposed to breast cancer, depending on her breed. In fact, vets and doctors actually have a lot in common–and, to treat both humans and other animals the best way possible, they should probably be talking more. That’s the subject of Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health And The Science Of Healing, a new book by Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers. More »

Yay! Mark Bittman Is Finally Writing The Partially-Vegan Weight Loss Book Of My Dreams

Yay! Mark Bittman Is Finally Writing The Partially-Vegan Weight Loss Book Of My Dreams

One of the things I love most about New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman (and there are many things I love about him) is how open he’s been about his own weight and weight loss–particularly, the “vegan before 6pm” diet that he came up with for himself.  Now, New York magazine says, he’s turning that diet into a book, which is probably the first weight loss book I’ve genuinely been excited about.  According to the magazine, VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health … for Good is due out in March. More »

Beyond Raw: Omega-3s Have Made Raw Food Pioneers Rethink Their Diets

Beyond Raw: Omega-3s Have Made Raw Food Pioneers Rethink Their Diets

Victoria Boutenko is one of the pioneers of the modern raw foods movement. She’s been a raw gourmet chef, and her books—like Raw Family, about her whole family’s 1994 conversion to a 100% raw diet—have helped scores of people learn about raw foods. But in Boutenko’s latest book, Raw & Beyond, she and co-authors Elaina Love and Chad Sarno (both raw chefs) explain how they’ve moved “beyond raw,” largely due to new science regarding omega-3s. We posted a recipe from Raw & Beyond for merlot pickled onions yesterday (in addition to essays from each author, the book features recipes and a great chart of the ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s in various oils and nuts). The following is an excerpt adapted from Boutenko’s section of the book, explaining what motivated her to start eating (and advocating) cooked foods again after nearly two decades eating 100% raw foods. More »

Spring Table: Merlot Pickled Onions From Raw & Beyond

Spring Table: Merlot Pickled Onions From Raw & Beyond

This recipe comes from Raw & Beyond, a new book that’s part essays on “how omega-3 nutrition is transforming the raw food paradigm” and part high-raw recipes. Its authors—Victoria Boutenko, Elaina Love and Chad Sarno—are all pioneers in the modern raw food movement who have moved “beyond raw” to eating some cooked foods. They now advocate a “high-raw diet” rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The following recipe for merlot pickled onions comes from Sarno, founder of restaurant consultancy and catering company Vital Creations and former personal chef to Woody Harrelson. It’s raw and incredibly simple, and pickled onions are great on spring salads. More »

Health and Hygiene Advice From 1919

Health and Hygiene Advice From 1919

At the thrift store this weekend, I picked up a copy of a book from 1919 called Hygiene And Health, written by Indiana college professors Charles P. Emerson and George Herbert Betts. The book is aimed at elementary school kids, so we are not quite the intended audience. Nonetheless, I think you all might enjoy some pearls of health wisdom from 1919. Click through for how often to eat each of the great groups of food (that would be “milk, eggs, cereal grains, vegetables, fruits, meats, sweets and pure water,” obviously); why our food should be “palatable” and our meal times “cheerful;” bad habits to avoid with your hair; and why to avoid iced drinks at soda fountains between meals. More »

The Lean Author Kathy Freston: ‘Weight Loss And Health Go Hand-In-Hand’

The Lean Author Kathy Freston: 'Weight Loss And Health Go Hand-In-Hand'

Between celebs who shill for diet pills, rumors of miraculous weight loss aided by hormone injections and various “proven” supplements, and gimmicky workouts, it can be hard to parse out exactly what is true, and what is not. But here’s what, according to author Kathy Freston (and common knowledge) is always true: you kind of can’t go wrong with a healthy diet, and mindful eating habits. That’s the basis of Freston’s latest book, The Lean: A Revolutionary (And Simple) 30-Day Plan For Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss–which sounds a bit like a “diet book” but is actually, it turns out, basically just a book of good advice and awesome vegan recipes. More »

Sara Benincasa: Overcoming Irrational Phobia And Becoming ‘Agorafabulous’

Sara Benincasa: Overcoming Irrational Phobia And Becoming 'Agorafabulous'

Sara Benincasa is a comedian, sex advice columnist and creator of a popular one-woman show, “Agorafabulous!” about her struggle with agoraphobia, panic attacks and anxiety disorder as a teen and young adult. After taking the show on tour—and touring with other comedians, including Margaret Cho—Benincasa turner her writing into an honest but comedic memoir of the same name, released last month. I asked Benincasa about the book, how panic attacks can lead to agoraphobia, and her path from being afraid to leave the house to being a touring author and performer. More »

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