Lake Bluff Library Adult Reading Lists: Self-Help and Self-Care

The world's leading expert on habit formation shows how you can have a happier, healthier life: by starting small. (Description from catalog.)

Dr. Martha Beck explains why anxiety is skyrocketing around you, and likely within you. She also tells you how to not only reduce your anxiety but use it to propel you into a life filled with peace, meaning, and joy.
(Description from Amazon)

Drawing on her own intimate struggles and based on cutting-edge research, Dr. Suzuki has developed an inspiring guidebook for managing unwarranted anxiety and turning it into a powerful asset. In the tradition of Quiet and Thinking, Fast and Slow, Good Anxiety has the power to permanently change how we understand anxiety and, more importantly, how we can use it to improve our lives for the better. (Description from catalog)

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights. We live in a world that's obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But admiring people who start out with innate advantages leads us to overlook the distance we ourselves can travel. We underestimate the range of skills that we can learn and the amount of ground that we can gain. When opportunity doesn't knock, there are ways to build a door.
(Description from catalog)

In Personality Isn't Permanent, Dr. Hardy draws on psychological research to demolish the popular misconception that personality-a person's consistent attitudes and behaviors-is innate and unchanging. He offers practical, motivational advice to help you cultivate the traits and achieve the goals you always dreamed of. (Description from catalog.)

Shankar has spent decades researching people's interior lives. When an unexpected change in her life left her feeling isolated and despondent, she sought out people who had undergone life-altering, extraordinary change and asked them to tell her everything. The process of listening deeply as others recounted their experiences led her to surprising insights that can help us all better navigate personal upheaval.
(Description from NoveList)

Psychotherapist Meg Josephson is here to show you that people-pleasing is not a personality trait. It’s a common survival mechanism known as “fawning”: an instinct often learned in childhood to become more appealing to a perceived threat in order to feel safe. Yet many people are stuck in this way of being for their whole lives. Are You Mad at Me? weaves Josephson’s own moving story with that of fascinating client stories and thought-provoking exercises.
(Description from NoveList)

And Then We Rise is about Common’s journey to wellness as a vital element of his success. A testimony to the benefits of self-care, this book is composed of four different sections, each with its own important lessons: "The Food" focuses on nutrition. "The Body" focuses on fitness. "The Mind" focuses on mental health. And "The Soul" focuses on perhaps the most profound thing of all—spiritual well-being.
(Description from Amazon)

From the bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, an inspiring book about one of humankind's defining but overlooked impulses, and how we can super-charge its potential to build a hopeful future. As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world's boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them and the unique insights he gained from how online sharing transformed TED into a global beacon of transformative ideas, he believes there's a pathway back from outrage to optimism. It all comes down to reimagining the role that one of the most fundamental human virtues-generosity-can play in our connected era.
(Description from catalog)

Embrace and share the transformative power of kindness through stories of more than one hundred Good People, brought to you by Upworthy, the beloved social media platform where millions find inspiration, joy, and daily affirmation.
(Description from Amazon)

Bestselling authors and award-winning podcasters Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle created We Can Do Hard Things, the guidebook for being alive, to help fellow travelers find their way through life.
(Description from Amazon)

A Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation’s unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a blend of memoir, cultural reporting, and practical guidance for anyone struggling to find balance in our turbulent modern world.
(Description from NoveList)

Conflict is the top reason couples seek help-but it's also an opportunity for greater intimacy, deeper connection, and lasting love according to this essential guide from the world's leading relationship scientists and bestselling authors of The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work.
(Description from catalog)

An activist, speaker and philanthropist offers a memoir wrapped in a wake-up call that reveals how women can reclaim their true, untamed selves by breaking free of the restrictive expectations and cultural conditioning that leaves them feeling dissatisfied and lost. (Description from NoveList.)

In the 1980s, a neurologist named Francisco Lopera traveled on horseback into the mountains of Colombia seeking families with symptoms of dementia. For centuries, residents of certain villages near Medellín had suffered memory loss as they reached middle age, going on to die in their fifties. Lopera discovered that a unique genetic mutation was causing their rare hereditary form of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
(Description from NoveList)

Healthy aging isn’t simply a roll of the dice. How people age is a choice. Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging discusses the biology of aging — why we age and how to slow the aging process. It delves into common health and lifestyle concerns and outlines steps that readers can take to enjoy longer and more purposeful lives.
(Description from Amazon)

Stronger muscles and bones, increased mobility, lifelong independence, and a new mentality for aging with power—this cutting-edge guide to nutrition, training, and lifestyle will optimize a woman’s body for longevity, through menopause and beyond.
(Description from publisher)

Dr. Ashely Alker has seen it all, from flesh-eating bacteria to the work of a serial killer to the more mundane but no less deadly, and her work outwitting the end has uniquely prepared her to write this book. Dr. Alker manages to shock readers while making them laugh, educating them on how to outsmart a wide range of deadly situations and conditions.
(Description from NoveList)

Health expert Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel argues that life is not a competition to live the longest, and that "wellness" shouldn't be difficult; it should be an invisible part of one's lifestyle that yields maximum health benefits with the least work.
(Description from NoveList)

An updated classic on nutrition and food, Marion Nestle's What to Eat Now is a straightforward and comprehensive guide to cutting through the marketing and half truths in order to make healthy, delicious, and sustainable food choices at the grocery store.
(Description from NoveList)

Delving into the healing power of over 80 fruits, leafy greens, herbs and spices, wild foods, and vegetables, this highly readable reference guide is designed for busy lives, with targeted information to elevate you and your loved ones above the sea of health confusion.
(Description from NoveList)

A “cure” for obesity has long been the holy grail for the pharmaceutical industry, one that seemed unattainable until recent breakthroughs in type 2 diabetes research led to the development of Ozempic, a weight loss medication that activates a hormone in the stomach called GLP-1, making people feel fuller for longer.
(Description from NoveList)

Dr. Nicole Avena spells out sugar's detrimental effects on the brain and body. She empowers readers with an easy 7-step program to help them find the hidden sugars in their foods, control their sweet tooth, and break the vicious diet cycle for good.
(Description from catalog)

Herbal Remedies for Sleep introduces readers to the top 15 herbs for reducing stress and encouraging a good night's sleep, along with recipes for using them in homemade formulas.
(Description from catalog)

Doctor and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta makes the empowering argument that there are effective options for relief that you can start practicing today to greatly reduce your chances of suffering pain tomorrow. Gupta runs the gamut of conventional and complementary approaches, highlighting insights from some of the nation’s leading pain scientists and specialists.
(Description from NoveList)

In this addition to his New York Times bestselling Plant Paradox series, Steven R. Gundry, MD offers a guide to the gut biome and its control over its home, revealing the unimaginably complex and intelligent ecosystem controlling our health and teaching us how to heal our guts to prevent and reverse every type of disease.
(Description from catalog)

From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new book that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist's world--where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she). (Description from catalog)

For her entire adult life, Oprah Winfrey has struggled with her weight. She never thought in her lifetime, medicines would provide hope, health, and healing for people like her. But as her conversations with Dr. Ania Jastreboff from the Yale School of Medicine reveal, we’ve learned that having obesity is not a choice. It’s not a question of willpower.
(Description from NoveList)

When Tyler Merritt was diagnosed with cancer, everything he thought he knew about what mattered in life changed. Though he made it through a highly invasive surgery and thought he was in the clear, Tyler soon realized that the cancer had other plans. It wasn't a question of if the tumor would come back for an encore, his doctors told him. It was a question of when. The clock was ticking.
(Description from NoveList)

The creator of the MIND diet, which is backed by scientists, doctors and organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and AARP, offers this practical, day-by-day guide to eating for weight loss, vitality and a lifetime of optimal cognitive function.
(Description from catalog)

Daniel Tammet - acclaimed author and an autistic savant himself - draws out the inner worlds of nine extraordinary, neurodivergent lives from around the globe. From a Fields Medal–winning mathematician to a murder detective, a pioneering surgeon to a bestselling novelist, each is remarkable in their field, and each is changing how the world sees those on the spectrum.
(Description from NoveList)

The actress known for 21 Grams and Mulholland Drive blends personal stories with expert advice to demystify menopause, offering women a candid, supportive guide to managing symptoms, tackling aging and embracing this transformative phase of life with confidence.
(Description from NoveList)

Comprehensive, compassionate, and refreshingly clear, The Lucky Egg is the fertility guide we've all been waiting for.
(Description from NoveList)

At long last...a cookbook completely dedicated to easy recipes that can be made in one pot, pan, or skillet! Get ready for one hundred easy, healthy, and delicious recipes...and so much more!
(Description from catalog)

From New York Times bestselling author Jamie Oliver comes a new cookbook to help you build a celebratory relationship with nourishing food that will make you feel healthier and happier.
(Description from Amazon)

Develop a healthier, happier relationship with food by tapping into these 80-plus nourishing recipes with zero intimidation factor from dietitian, nutrition expert, and TikTok sensation Steph Grasso.
(Description from Amazon)

Whether you're looking for creative ways to incorporate more protein into your diet, go-to recipes to jazz up your favorite proteins, or ideas for nutritionally balanced meals that will keep you satiated, Homolka has you covered. Each recipe packs at least thirty grams of protein per serving (including options for vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free eaters) and there are plenty of one-pot, meal-prep friendly, and streamlined recipes for every meal of the day.
(Description from NoveList)

A father of three with a stressful job, Tyler Moore felt his life resembled an overstuffed closet: disorganized and overly busy behind the tidy, closed doors. When it all became too much--for their 750-square-foot apartment and his nerves--he set out to unpack the physical and emotional mess around him. Chronicling his progress as "Tidy Dad" on Instagram, he learned that tidying is about so much more than the aesthetics and decluttering of a physical space.
(Description from catalog)

An essential guide for parents and caregivers, this book offers insights, strategies, and understanding to navigate middle childhood.
(Description from Amazon)

Brown offers a broad assessment of the skill sets and mindsets we need moving forward, including the capacity for respectful and difficult conversations, increased productive urgency and smart prioritization rather than reactivity, and strategic risk-taking, paradoxical thinking, and situational and anticipatory awareness skills.
(Description from NoveList)

The creator of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" details the one-year experiment with saying "yes" that transformed her life, revealing how accepting unexpected invitations she would have otherwise declined enabled powerful benefits. (Description from catalog)

My prayers are my poems are my prayers. I've always relied on logic to make sense of myself and the world. I don't want to quit believing, and I don't want to stop believing in humanity, you, myself, our potential. It's time to flip the script on what's historically been our means of making sense, and instead open our aperture to enchantment and look to faith, belief, and dreams for our reality.
(Description from NoveList)

Hoda Kotb didn’t expect to join the Today show at age forty-four. Or to become a mother at fifty-two. Or to leave Today and embark on a new adventure at sixty! Change doesn’t always arrive when we expect it, and its effects are anything but predictable. But Hoda believes that the benefits of change can be extraordinary...if we’re willing to listen to and learn from them.
(Description from NoveList)

Every day we are confronted with...sudden pivots at our workplace, rule-changing technology, unexpected crises and a culture of chaos, and the sinking feeling that we are losing control of our lives. This is the book about taking back control. It’s easy to follow and easy to turn into lifelong habits. It has been thoroughly researched and examined. Simply put, Disrupt Everything works.
(Description from Amazon)

A neuroscientist and tenured professor at Stanford School of Medicine introduces an essential guide to improving brain function, enhancing mood and energy, optimizing bodily health and physical performance and rewiring your nervous system to learn new skills and behaviors to transform your life.
(Description from NoveList)

The People’s Guide to College Applications presents a radically compassionate, last-minute–friendly approach to college applications that honors messy lives, economic realities, and authentic stories—especially for students and families who feel like they’re late to the game.
(Description from Amazon)

Author, speaker, and addiction recovery expert Caroline Beidler offers friends and family members the gift of being able to understand the recovery lifestyle--a way of life that goes beyond anonymous meetings in church basements and fosters a sense of well-being, healthy coping strategies, discovering new passions, and nurturing a deep personal faith.
(Description from Amazon)

If you have a she-shed and no longer care about clothes that fit or cellulite on your legs (legs is legs!), then welcome to the club—the We Do Not Care Club (WDNC). You’re now a card-carrying member with an exclusive invite to the big­gest hormonal party in town.
(Description from NoveList)

Ella Quittner walks you through the results of 24 head-to-head tests of cooking methods to help you find the perfect choice for your palate. From these building blocks, Quittner shares more than 100 recipes, grounding you in minimalist techniques that maximize flavor, and sharing creative options as jumping off points for your own favorite flavors.
(Description from Amazon)

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz's patients seek him out first and foremost because he's a gastroenterologist. But more and more, he hears that in addition to their constipation or IBS, patients are also suffering from allergies, depression, thyroid problems, and more. What many don't realize is that the gut is the gateway for both health and illness. So, if you have issues with your gut, chances are you may have issues with chronic illness.
(Description from NoveList)

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The New Menopause explains everything a woman needs to know to thrive during the often-misdiagnosed and medically ignored perimenopausal years
(Description from catalog)