Mind, Body & Spirit

In his new book, physician, biologist, and lauded author Mukherjee displays more of the depth, humanity, and approachable intellect that readers have come to expect from him. Having previously tackled the topics of cancer and genetics, Mukherjee now focuses on cells. While some of what he covers is fairly rote, his personal stories and anecdotes about lesser known historical figures make for a thoroughly engaging read. I found the sections on the latest advances in cellular medicine to be particularly intriguing, Mukherjee’s passion for his work leaps off the page, and it’s infectious.

—JADE

Rest Is Resistance can be read as a guidebook to resistance or a doctrine for self-care. Hersey advocates for rest as one of the most powerful ways to contend with racial and social justice. Breaking down capitalism and systematic oppression, she speaks to how labor, especially for BIPOC laborers, has long been structured in a way that is dehumanizing and exploitative—where work and production take priority over anything else. Reclaiming rest, day-dreaming, and spacious time lets us enter a place of contemplation and allows for the reentry of priorities and values. This book is one to be experienced.

—S.M.C.

In Life is Hard, Kieran Setiya puts truth and reality on the table: There is no cure for the human condition. Endless happiness and living your best life are unrealistic. With relatable anecdotes, humor, and bite-sized portions of philosophy, readers will feel seen and understood as Setiya navigates topics like failure, grief, and loneliness. This is not a step-by-step guide but an opportunity to reexamine your own life from a different perspective.

—KRISTINA

I am a big fan of critical thinking; it should be a required course! Luckily, Woo-kyoung Ahn has taken the wisdom she gathered from years of experience researching and teaching a class at Yale on the topic and compiled it in Thinking 101. This book is an accessible look into our own psychology. Deeply examine your own thought processes and learn to think better and to live better by doing so.

—MJ

Thought provoking in every sense, Visual Thinkers looks at what it means to be a visual thinker in a verbal thinker’s world. It was eye-opening to learn why some people understand how a complex machine works better than they understand how to take a standardized test, and why society needs different types of thinkers to progress. Grandin breaks down her discovery in an accessible way so that anyone can better understand how our brains work.

—KAILEY JO

Fans of Nora McInerny’s podcast Terrible, Thanks For Asking will gobble up this hilarious and heartbreaking book. Her wry approach to wearying topics makes her candid discussion a breeze to read in a single sitting. She walks a balance between self-compassion and self-roasting that I yearn to achieve. Trigger warnings for discussions of death, disordered eating, and cancer, and reminders that Tumblr was a thing.

—LINDSAY

“Recycling and political protests are not enough,” Karen Armstrong urges in her new book Sacred Nature. Instead of delving into another technological way to stave off climate change, Armstrong explores humanity's broken bond with the natural world. Each chapter examines different ancient philosophies and their reverence for the natural world and how reconnecting with the sacredness of nature will drive our society to view nature not as a separate entity, but as something that is entirely within us.

—KRISTINA

Instead of seeking enlightenment, what if we seek endarkenment? Informed by years as a Zen monk as well as shamanism, racial justice activism, and environmental change, this is a radical new practice. Told in lush language and with reverence for the natural world, Luminous Darkness is perfect for lovers of Braiding Sweetgrass and readers of the late Thich Nhat Hanh. Dive into the dark night to find the divine within. 
—JASON

Everything Left To Remember is about the way one woman learned to embrace her mother and their complicated relationship after her mother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer's. Steph Jagger writes in a poetic voice, and she skillfully weaves together dialogue, plot, and genuine humor. This book encourages readers to embrace the complexity of grief, feeling, and relationships, and it honors Jagger’s remarkable journey, during which she learned to face the unbearable by doing the impossible.  —Cyreine

Speaking to her own struggle with chronic illness and trying to heal from trauma, Róisín, a Bangladeshi Muslim, looks at wellness through the lens of advocacy and social justice. Blending memoir and journalistic inquiry, she offers both the argument for and resources to inclusive self-care—while also bringing to light the disparity and appropriation that runs so deeply in the wellness culture. This is a fascinating read.  —S.M.C.