Whether you’re looking to improve the health of your body or your mind, we can help you with health  books to give you some guidance. Body image, food allergies, chronic illness, neurodiversity, the history of germs, eating healthy on a budget and more are all in this selection this month.

Get a grip, love / Lucey, Kate
“Kate Lucey has been ‘officially’ depressed (as in, diagnosed) for six years. In that time she’s experienced everything from bad therapy, knock-out meds, and friends-with-too-many-opinions, to good therapy, medication, and solutions that actually work. This book recognises that getting help is not as easy as ‘just telling someone’ or ‘taking some pills’. Crucially, as well as poking fun at mental illness and all its absurdities (because what are we without laughter, hey?), Kate reminds you that it’s fine not to feel ok. That you can go back to crying at any time. And that you do not need to get a grip.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Your weight is not the problem : a simple, no-diet plan for healthy habits that stick / Cohen, Lyndi
“In Your Weight is not the Problem, nutritionist and dietitian Lyndi Cohen offers a simple plan to break free from the dieting trap with small, doable healthy habits you can stick to no matter how busy life gets. Her evidence-based strategies will help you find freedom with food and build a trusting, healthy relationship with your body. Because health and happiness aren’t about having a perfectly flat stomach or a cellulite-free tush. They’re about feeling comfortable in your skin and having the energy to do the things you love. Liberate yourself from food guilt and self-blame with a new approach to health that doesn’t rely on willpower or counting calories, because you can’t live a full life on an empty stomach.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The long COVID survival guide : how to take care of yourself and what comes next
“The first patient-to-patient guide for people living with Long COVID, with answers and reassurance to guide readers through issues like getting diagnosed, dealing with symptoms, and caring for their mental health.” (Catalogue)

Dirty laundry : why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help / Pink, Richard
“The authors, the husband-and-wife team behind the social media accounts @ADHD_Love, present their perspectives and insights on real adult life with ADHD, including guidance and education for family and friends on how to best support neurodivergent people.” (Catalogue)

Living gluten-free / Korn, Danna
“Covering the practical, medical, scientific, and emotional aspects of the lifestyle, this book will inspire you with all the details on the benefits of giving up gluten, common and hidden sources of gluten, how to deal with the social and emotional challenges, tips and insight on shopping and eating out, and recipes for creating delicious, gluten-free meals and snacks.” (Catalogue)

The complete human body : the definitive visual guide / Roberts, Alice
“The definitive guide to the development, form, function, and disorders of the human body. The most detailed popular reference book on human anatomy available, this beautiful exploration of the human body is now in its third edition, revised with the latest medical knowledge. The 3-D computer-generated illustrations are incredibly detailed, virtually life-size, and based on the 3-D scans of a real human body. But in addition, the book features hundreds of smaller illustrations, diagrams, and the latest medical and microscope imaging.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Breasts : an owner’s guide / Kaye, Philippa
“Separate fact from fiction with the first complete medical guide to breasts. Health expert Dr. Philippa Kaye offers straightforward advice, explaining every what, why, and how of your mammaries, helping you improve your self-care routine both today and tomorrow.” (Catalogue)

Pathogenesis : how germs made history / Kennedy, Jonathan
“‘According to the accepted narrative of progress, a few great humans have bent the arc of history. But in this revelatory book, Dr Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs have done more to shape humanity at every stage, from the first success of Homo sapiens over the equally intelligent Neanderthals to the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam. By exploring the startling intimacy of our relationship with infectious diseases, Kennedy shows how they have been responsible for some of the seismic revolutions of the past 50,000 years.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

A history of fatigue : from the Middle Ages to the present / Vigarello, Georges
“This pioneering book explores the rich and little-known history of fatigue from the Middle Ages to the present. Vigarello shows that our understanding of fatigue, the words used to describe it, and the symptoms and explanations of it have varied greatly over time, reflecting changing social mores and broader aspects of social and political life. Ranging from the history of war, religion and work to the history of the body, the senses and intimacy, this history of fatigue shows how something that seems permanently centered in our bodies has, over the course of centuries, also been ingrained in our minds, in the end affecting the innermost aspects of the self.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Broke vegan one pot : over 100 simple plant-based recipes that don’t cost the earth / Dixon, Sam
“With over 100 plant-based recipes using supermarket staples, along with hints and tips for simplifying vegan cooking, Broke Vegan: One Pot will have you cooking delicious meals time after time that save money and help the planet. From easy weeknight meals to fancier dishes for entertaining, Broke Vegan: One Pot will help you cook sustainably without breaking the bank.” (Catalogue)

For more new items in the collection, go to What’s new & Popular / June 2023 (wcl.govt.nz)