Category: Recent picks

Our picks of the new material in different subject areas. Find your next read! See also our full lists of what’s new, and our other lists that feature a mix of old and new material.

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Chill: New Health & Wellness Titles in the Collection

Kath

Take a look at these new books on health and wellness that have been recently added to our collection.  They cover mental and physical health, food, exercise, sleep, addiction and more.

Chill : the cold water swim cure / Harper, Mark
“A history, science, and program for cold water swimming used successfully as a therapeutic intervention for many who suffer from a handful of health conditions including chronic pain, dementia, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and migraines.” (Catalogue)

 

Living PCOS free : how to regain your hormonal health with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Bajekal, Nitu
“Based on her research, 35 years’ clinical practice, and her personal experience of a plant-based diet–with input from her daughter, nutritionist and former PCOS sufferer Rohini Bajekal–she offers this practical lifestyle guide to recovery from polycystic ovarian syndrome. ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

This naked mind : nicotine : the proven science-based method to quitting smoking and vaping / Grace, Annie
“In This Naked Mind: Nicotine Annie Grace and William Porter combine their tried-and-tested, science-backed and habit-breaking solutions to help you to overcome nicotine addiction. With thought-provoking questions and exercises that will spark clarity and help you think differently, they will guide you to give up for good. Ground-breaking, essential and transformative, this book will help you jump-start your journey to stop smoking or vaping, leading to immediate and lasting change.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The neuroscience of excellent sleep : how neuroscience and mindfulness can help you get a good night’s sleep, work more efficiently and lead a healthier life / Rodski, Stan
“In this book, renowned neuroscientist Stan Rodski takes us through the fundamentals of sleep – how sleep works, why we sleep and how much sleep we need – but, most importantly, he gives us exercises to help overcome the bane of insomnia. Drawing on the techniques of mindfulness, meditation and relaxation, and the neuroscience that underpins them all, Stan gives you the tools to prepare yourself (and your children) for an excellent sleep – and achieve it!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The book of feeling blue : understand & manage depression / Smith, Gwendoline
“Bestselling author of The Book of Overthinking Gwendoline Smith explains what’s going on when you’re feeling down and offers advice on how best to cope.” (Catalogue)

 

 

The invisible kingdom : reimagining chronic illness / O’Rourke, Meghan
“A landmark exploration of one of the most consequential and mysterious issues of our time: the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. Renowned writer Meghan O’Rourke delivers a revelatory investigation into this elusive category of ‘invisible’ illness that encompasses autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and now long COVID.  The Invisible Kingdom offers hope for the sick, solace and insight for their loved ones, and a radical new understanding of our bodies and our health.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Intolerance-friendly kitchen / McDermott, Georgia
“If you have a dietary intolerance and sometimes feel you’re missing out on foods you’d love to eat, this book is for you. Intolerance-Friendly Kitchen is all about reliable recipes that are gluten free, low FODMAP and vegetarian, and cater wherever possible to diets without dairy, eggs, nuts, grains, starches or gums.  From bread, cakes and other sweet bakes to pasta, noodles and savoury pastry, this is a collection of recipes so rewarding and easy to follow that meeting your dietary requirements feels like a bonus!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Your health in your hands : an essential handbook to futureproof your health / Okorocha, Emeka
“TikTok star and A&E Doctor, Emeka Okorocha fast became a go-to source for healthcare advice and support during the pandemic. Your Health in Your Hands is his handbook for preventative medicine in the form of simple lifestyle hacks and advice for mind and body health that can be harnessed in the short-term with huge long-term benefits.” (Catalogue)

 

The perfect tonic : the remarkable medicinal history of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails / English, Camper
“Alcohol and medicine have an inextricably intertwined history, with innovations in each altering the path of the other.  Modern cocktails like the Gimlet, Gin & Tonic, and Old Fashioned were born as delicious remedies for diseases and discomforts. In Doctors and Distillers, cocktail expert Camper English reveals how and why the contents of our medicine and liquor cabinets were, until surprisingly recently, one and the same.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The anxiety antidote : how awareness and action can lead to self-control and inner peace / Bedi, Kamran
“The Anxiety Antidote makes understanding and dealing with anxiety easy and practical. With leading Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, Integral Eye Movement Therapy and Transformational Life Coach Kamran Bedi as your guide, gain a deeper awareness of what anxiety is, how it is formed subjectively, the physical symptoms and a set of practical tools that you can use to eradicate anxiety from your life.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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

Self Care – New Health Titles in the Collection

Kath

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)

How to Find Stillness Within: New Health Titles in the Collection

Kath

From birth to death and everywhere in between, we have a whole host of new health titles in the collection this January.  Here are some to get you started.

How to find stillness within : the yoga therapy plan to help you find inner peace in a chaotic world / Dunsmuir, Colin
“How to Find Stillness Within is a therapeutic programme to help readers accept their flaws and discover a more fulfilling way of living, featuring a foreword by Cara Delevingne.  Whether you’d like to boost your mental and physical wellbeing, general health, or gain a supportive framework to help you to overcome difficult situations that you’re facing in life, this book can help.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Overcoming stress-induced brain fog : 10 simple ways to find focus, improve memory & feel grounded / Weber, Jill P.
“Brain fog-that feeling of being overstimulated and stressed to the point where it affects the ability to focus, concentrate, or communicate effectively-is a very real issue for many people. The prolonged stress and anxiety that lead to brain fog can decrease motivation, passion, and even one’s sense of self-worth. This book presents proven-effective skills from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neuroscience, and offers readers ten powerful and accessible approaches for cutting through the haze and reclaiming control.” (Catalogue)

Duel without end : mankind’s battle with microbes / Frøland, Stig Sophus
“From the bubonic plague to theoretical pathogens on other worlds, a sweeping look at the past, present, and future of mass infections-and how we battle them. In this panoramic and up-to-date account, we learn how the Black Death, smallpox, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and other great epidemics have not only led to enormous suffering and mass death but have also contributed to the fall of empires and changed the course of history. Duel Without End is a fascinating journey through the long history of infection, from the dawn of life to humanity’s future exploration of deep space.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

Healthier homes : a blueprint for creating a toxin-free living environment / Stout, Jen
“We spend 90% percent of our time indoors and consider our homes to be safe havens from the stresses and dangers of the outside world, but what most of us don’t know is that the materials used to build our homes can contribute to our ill health. Healthy Home Builder is a soup-to-nuts guide for builders and DIY-er’s starting with the design and site selection, progressing to the materials for the interior and exterior of the home, and addressing the finishing touches of interior design and furnishings – and it includes a gorgeous photo gallery of homes that have been built with health and wellness in mind.”(Adapted from Catalogue)

Rest is resistance : a manifesto / Hersey, Tricia
“Disrupt and push back against capitalism and white supremacy. In this book, Tricia Hersey, aka The Nap Bishop, encourages us to connect to the liberating power of rest, daydreaming, and naps as a foundation for healing and justice. With captivating storytelling and practical advice, all delivered in Hersey’s lyrical voice and informed by her deep experience in theology, activism, and performance art, Rest Is Resistance is a call to action, a battle cry, a field guide, and a manifesto for all of us who are sleep deprived, searching for justice, and longing to be liberated from the oppressive grip of Grind Culture.”(Adapted from Catalogue)

The myth of normal : trauma, illness & healing in a toxic culture / Maté, Gabor
“In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?”(Catalogue)

Stumbling through space and time : living life with dyspraxia / Richings, Rosemary
Rosemary shares her experience of growing up dyspraxic, and how it impacts her sense of space, time and co-ordination.  Full of practical tips and insights into the strategies that gave Rosemary the confidence to succeed, this is an essential guide for other dyspraxics and those supporting them, which shows you how you too can thrive as a dyspraxic person.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

Minding your mind : understanding your mind : taking control of your mental health / Hickie, Ian
“It’s our greatest asset, but it can also be our greatest adversary, allowing in self-doubt, anxious thoughts and depression. Written with compassion and curiosity, warmth and humour, Minding Your Mind is for anyone who wants the best for their mental well-being but might not know the best way to get there. It’s a check-up for everything happening between the ears and through the body, flagging the warning signs when things get wobbly and offering a pathway to a more fulfilling life.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Shodo : the practice of mindfulness through the ancient art of Japanese calligraphy / Takeda, Rie
“The ancient Japanese art of calligraphy is more than just a decorative skill; it is a revolutionary approach to mindfulness. This is alongside spiritual guidance, including the concept of Mushin (an undisturbed mind), Qi energy, and how to discover your unique inner quality. ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

And finally : matters of life and death / Marsh, Henry
“From the bestselling neurosurgeon and author of Do No Harm, an unflinching and deeply personal exploration of death, life and neuroscience. As a retired brain surgeon, Henry Marsh thought he understood illness, but he was unprepared for the impact of his diagnosis of advanced cancer. Elegiac, candid, luminous and poignant, And Finally is ultimately not so much a book about death, but a book about life and what matters in the end.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

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