Healthy Made Simple: New Health Books in the Collection

It’s very easy for the doldrums to set in when February hits, so what better time to think about learning how to be more healthy.  Healthy eating, exercise, taking care of your mental health, looking after babies and children and living with chronic illness are all included in this month’s new health titles in the collection.  Take a look at these we’ve selected for you:

Healthy made simple : delicious, plant-based recipes, ready in 30 minutes or less / Mills, Ella
“What can you do today that makes life simpler tomorrow? How can you create a healthy, genuinely delicious meal in minutes? There’s no denying the challenge or the pressure to continuously look after your wellbeing, carve out time to exercise, manage your stress, cook healthy meals, get enough sleep and make time for your friends, all while juggling life’s other many demands! Ella wants to make eating well every day a joy, and in Healthy Made Simple she gives you the tools you need to unlock a healthier life.” (Provided by publisher)

How to wild swim : what to know before taking the plunge / Foote, Ella
” Whether you want to explore remote beaches and mountain lochs, improve your confidence in open water, refine your swimming technique, or have a race or long-distance swim challenge coming up, How to Wild Swim offers the perfect practical foundation to help you find your perfect adventure and achieve your goal. This body conditioning sport is praised for not only making us stronger and healthier but also happier too. So no matter what your goal–short wild swims and weekend breaks, to full adventure swimming expeditions and off-grid vacations–dive right in and submerge yourself in this wild, watery, fearless book.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Change your brain every day : simple daily practices to strengthen your mind, memory, moods, focus, energy, habits, and relationships / Amen, Daniel G
“In Change Your Brain Every Day psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist Daniel Amen, MD, draws on over 40 years’ clinical practice with tens of thousands of patients to give you the most effective daily habits he has seen that can help you improve your brain, master your mind, boost your memory, and make you feel happier, healthier, and more connected to those you love.” (Catalogue)

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Forever Strong – New Health Books in the Collection

January is that time of year so many of us are feeling a bit run down and worn out, so it’s a good time to investigate what new health books we have in the collection.  A broad selection of titles from birth and midwifery through changing bodies, healthy eating, exercise, ageing and even death.  We’ve curated a selection for you here.

Forever strong : a new, science-based strategy for aging well / Lyon, Gabrielle
” After years of watching patients cycle through her practice, Dr Gabrielle Lyon noticed a pattern. While her patients struggled with a wide range of conditions, they all suffered from the same core problem: they had too little muscle rather than too much fat. When we think about muscle, we tend to think about strength or aesthetics, but in reality, muscle accounts for so much more than that. As the body’s largest endocrine organ, muscle actually determines everything about the trajectory of health and aging. Now, Dr Lyon offers an easy-to-follow food, fitness, and self-care program anchored in evidence and pioneering research that teaches you how to optimize muscle-no matter your age or health background.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Breaking through depression : new treatments and discoveries for healing / Gold, Philip W.
“Since he first developed the idea that depression is a stress response gone awry, Philip Gold has spent decades researching what this means for our whole bodies, not just our brains. In this book, he reveals the latest research on how depression affects every aspect of our health – from the chemical messengers that control sleep and appetite to the brain’s structure and functionality. Timely, urgent and important, Breaking Through Depression articulates the workings of this misunderstood illness in compelling and often surprising detail, introducing the newest innovations in treatment that offer hope for healing.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Veg-table : recipes, techniques + plant science for big-flavored, vegetable-focused meals / Sharma, Nik
“Nik Sharma, blogger at A Brown Table, Serious Eats columnist, and bestselling cookbook author, brings us his most cookable collection of recipes yet in Veg-table. Here is a technique-focused repertoire for weeknight mains for cooks of all skill levels looking to add more delicious and satisfying vegetable dishes to their diet. Featuring more than 100 of Sharma’s gorgeous and evocative photographs, as well as instructive illustrations, this cookbook perfectly balances beauty, intellect, and delicious, achievable recipes.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Delivered from Distraction: New Health Books in the Collection

If you have health questions, are looking for more in-depth information or just have curiosity about health topics in general, we’ve got a robust selection of new books for you to delve into on the subject of health.  Take a look at these:

Delivered from distraction : getting the most out of life with attention deficit disorder / Hallowell, Edward M
“In 1994, Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder. Widely recognized as the classic in the field, the book has sold more than a million copies. Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD, and the news is great. Drug therapies, our understanding of the role of diet and exercise, even the way we define the disorder – all are changing radically. And doctors are realizing that millions of adults suffer from this condition, though the vast majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Migraine / Sacks, Oliver W
“Migraine is an age-old — the first recorded instances date back over two thousand years — and often debilitating condition, affecting a ‘substantial minority’ of the population across the globe. In this book, Oliver Sacks offers at once a medical account of its occurrence and management; an exploration of its physical, physiological, and psychological underpinnings and consequences; and a meditation on the nature and experience of health and illness.” (Catalogue)

Box of birds : what New Zealand taught me about life and the practice of medicine / Stowers, Stephen
“In this fascinating memoir, cardiologist Stephen Stowers eloquently captures the various changes that he has lived through over a lifetime spent as a caring and ethical medical professional. He also shows how he found refuge in another country, where he was able to practice medicine in a more ethical fashion once again and explains to us the surprising truth that he discovered there: New Zealand has better patient outcomes yet spends less money on healthcare, compared with a country such as the US. Doctors, nurses, medical professionals of all kinds, and anybody who has been a patient and wondered what has gone wrong in American medicine and how to help put things right again should read this book.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Get a grip, love: New health books

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)

Waving Not Drowning: How to Make Sure Social Media Isn’t Dragging You Down

It’s so easy to do isn’t it, spending ages just doomscrolling through Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram… whatever your social media of preference is.  Sometimes it’s just the timesuck of escapism, endless cat videos, meme sharing and satisfying content where corners line up, machines produce rows and rows of perfect replicas and coloured sand can be cut into precise shapes.  Or maybe you find yourself getting caught up in internet drama that really takes more of your precious time and energy than you should let it.

We’ve gathered a list of titles to help you curate your social media so that it keeps you connected, entertained and informed, and give you control over your social media experience.

Smarter than you think : how technology is changing our minds for the better / Thompson, K. C.
“A brilliant examination into how the internet is profoundly changing the way we think. In this groundbreaking book, Wired writer Clive Thompson argues that the internet is boosting our brainpower, encouraging new ways of thinking, and making us more not less intelligent as is so often claimed. Lucidly written and argued, ‘Smarter Than You Think’ is a breathtaking original look at our Brave New World.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Mental immunity : infectious ideas, mind-parasites, and the search for a better way to think / Norman, Andy
“Philosopher Andy Norman dives into the world of mind-parasites, ideas that cause destructive thinking and extremism, and describes how to inoculate your mind to keep it safe from bad ideas”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

Think before you like : social media’s effect on the brain and the tools you need to navigate your newsfeed / Harrison, Guy P
“Social media has pitfalls: misinformation, pseudoscience, fraud, and irrational beliefs, presented in an attractive, easy-to-share form. It reinforces your biases by tracking your preferences: it sends only filtered newsfeeds, so that you rarely see anything that might challenge your set notions. Harrison demonstrates how critical thinking can enhance the benefits of social media, while giving readers the skills to guard against its dangers. He also suggests ways to protect yourself against privacy invasion, trolls, and the confusion over fake news versus credible journalism.” (Catalogue)

The blind giant : how to survive in the digital age / Harkaway, Nick
“The digital age. An age of isolation, warped communication, disintegrating community. Where unfiltered and unregulated information pours relentlessly into our lives, destroying what it means to be human. Or an age of marvels. Where there is a world of wonder at our fingertips.” (Catalogue)

 

Breaking the social media prism : how to make our platforms less polarizing / Bail, Christopher
“This book examines how social media functions like a prism that distorts our identities, empowers status-seeking extremists, and renders moderates all but invisible. It challenges common myths about echo chambers, foreign misinformation campaigns, and radicalizing algorithms, revealing that the solution to political tribalism lies deep inside ourselves.” (Catalogue)

Digital madness : how social media is driving our mental health crisis—and how to restore our sanity / Kardaras, Nicholas
“In Digital Madness, Dr. Kardaras turns his attention to our teens and young adults. For them, the digital world is a bubble of content you’re meant to “like” or “dislike.” Two choices might be considered easy, but just how detrimental is this binary thinking to mental health?  Digital Madness is a crucial book for parents, educators, therapists, public health professionals, and policymakers who are searching for ways to restore our young people’s mental and physical health.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Future minds : how the digital age is changing our minds, why this matters, and what we can do about it / Watson, Richard
“This is for anyone who’s curious about rethinking their thinking or unleashing the extraordinary potential of the human mind.” (Catalogue)

 

 

How to fix the future : staying human in the digital age / Keen, Andrew
“Humanity has in the past undergone periods of creative destruction where improvements of social and economic conditions have come with harmful side effects. Keen identified five key tools: competitive innovation, consumer choice, regulation, social responsibility, and education, and then traveled the world to see how data commissioners, software developers, entrepreneurs and more are using these tools to make positive change. In an increasingly digital world, we must take steps to make the future something we can again look forward to.” (Catalogue)

The power of off : the mindful way to stay sane in a virtual world / Colier, Nancy
“Our reliance on technology is rapidly changing how each of us experiences life. We’re facing new issues and difficulties, we’re encountering new emotional triggers, and we’re relating to each other in new ways. The promise of technology is that it will make our lives easier; yet to realize that promise, we cannot be passive users we must bring awareness and mindfulness to our relationships with our devices.” (Catalogue)

Irresistible : why we can’t stop checking, scrolling, clicking and watching / Alter, Adam
“How many times have you checked your phone today? Why are messaging apps, email and social media so hard to resist? How come we always end up watching another episode? In recent years, media and technology have perfected the lucrative art of gaining and holding our attention. This extraordinary feat has changed the behaviour of billions of people, and especially the young: by current medical standards, we are experiencing an unprecedented, global pandemic of addiction. But what exactly is an addiction, and what, if anything, might we do about it?” (Catalogue)

Self Care – New Health Titles in the Collection

Self care, caring for family and caring about food are some of the themes in this month’s crop of new health titles.  Take a look at these to get started.

Self-care for people with ADHD : 100+ ways to recharge, de-stress, and prioritize you / Hamdani, Sasha
“When you have ADHD, it can be hard to stay on top of your wellness. Self-Care for People with ADHD is here to help! This book can help you engage in some neurodiverse self-care-without pretending to be neurotypical. You’ll find more than 100 tips to accepting yourself, destigmatizing ADHD, finding your community, and taking care of your physical and mental health. You’ll find solutions for managing the negative aspects of ADHD, as well as ideas to bring out the positive aspects.” (Catalogue)

Connections : the new science of emotion / Deisseroth, Karl
“Mental illness is one of the greatest causes of human suffering, its nature and origin a long-held mystery. But thanks to new science and technology, our understanding has reached a tipping point. In Connections, Professor Karl Deisseroth intertwines his own breakthrough discoveries with moving case studies from his experience as an emergency psychiatry physician, in order to tell a wider story about the origins of human emotion.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Crohn’s & colitis / Ali, Tauseef
“Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases that disrupt your body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrition, and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Crohn’s And Colitis For Dummies is the ultimate reference to these common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including tips on how to recognize and control the symptoms, so you can get your life back.”  (Adapted from Catalogue)

The yoga manifesto : how yoga helped me and why it needs to save itself / Gilani, Nadia
“Nadia Gilani has been practising yoga for twenty-five years. She has also worked as a yoga teacher. Yoga has saved her life and seen her through many highs and lows; it has been a faith, a discipline, and a friend, and she believes wholeheartedly in its radical potential. By turns poignant, funny, and shocking, The Yoga Manifesto excavates where the industry has gone wrong, and what can be done to save the practice from its own success.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Breastfeeding doesn’t need to suck : how to nurture your baby and your mental health / Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen A
“Painful latch, delayed milk, low supply, oversupply, infections, and tongue-tie are just some of the issues that can imperil breastfeeding. Postpartum anxiety and depression can make things even harder. This book aims to help expectant and new mothers reach their breastfeeding goals and care for their babies with confidence.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Food for life : the new science of eating well / Spector, T. D.
“Food is our greatest ally for good health, but the question of what to eat has never seemed so complicated. In his new book, Tim Spector creates a unique, thorough, evidence-based guide to the real science of eating. Moving away from misleading notions of calories or nutritional breakdowns, Food for Life empowers us to make our own food choices based on a deeper understanding of the true benefits and harms that come from our daily transactions with the foods around us.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Plague, pestilence and pandemic : voices from history
“Plague, pestilence, and pandemics have been a part of the human story from the beginning and have been reflected in art and writing at every turn. Humankind has always struggled with illness; and the experiences of different cities and countries have been compared and connected for thousands of years. From the plagues of ancient Egypt recorded in Genesis to those like the Black Death that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages, and from the Spanish flu of 1918 to the Covid-19 pandemic in our own century, this anthology contains fascinating accounts.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Taking charge of adult ADHD : proven strategies to succeed at work, at home, and in relationships / Barkley, Russell A.
“Preeminent expert Russell A. Barkley explains what ADHD looks like in adults, how to get an accurate evaluation, and how sufferers can manage symptoms and build the life they want.   Featuring the latest resources and medication facts, the second edition includes new or expanded discussions of mindfulness, emotional self-control, time management, building a successful career, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Eat & flourish : how food supports emotional well-being / Albright, Mary Beth
“A lively and evidence-based argument that a whole food diet is essential for good mental health. Food has power to nourish your mind, supporting emotional wellness through both nutrients and pleasure. In this groundbreaking book, journalist Mary Beth Albright draws on cutting-edge research to explain the food/mood connection. She redefines “emotional eating” based on the science, revealing how eating triggers biological responses that affect humans’ emotional states both immediately and long-term. Albright’s accessible voice and ability to interpret complex studies from the new field of nutritional psychology, combined with straightforward suggestions for what to eat and how to eat it, make this an indispensable guide.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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