2 recommended books to turn your e-reader into a personal health and wellness coach
David Lingholm
| 3 min read
I have always loved reading. As a kid, I would sneak a flashlight into my room and read under the covers for hours. Two surefire punishments my parents would mete out for me were not allowing me to watch This Week in Baseball and not letting me read before bed.
Things haven’t changed much since then. I started a book blog several years ago as a way to keep track of my progress toward reading 52 books in one year (I fell short, only reading 47 that year). I read dozens of blog posts and news articles every day, then pick up a book when I get home as a way to relax before bed.
My iPad has revolutionized my book reading. If I’ve run out of fresh reading material, I can now hop on my favorite e-book store and start shopping, rather than wait until my next trip to the library or a book store. Lately I’ve taken on a few books related to health as a way to better educate myself about the topics we discuss regularly on A Healthier Michigan. And I’ve got two finds that should make your short list of books you need to download.
- “Prime-Time Health” by William Sears, MD — This book is written for the reader who’s in the “prime time” of their life, which Dr. Sears defines as beginning roughly in your 50’s, but his delivery make this an easily accessible book for people of any age. He speaks in plain English about things like making the right difference in your cholesterol numbers, how Omega-3 fatty acids workand why you need more of them, and what foods you need to load up on if you want to increase your vitality as you grow older.
My favorite part is the instructions he gives on how to use the book. Sears suggests you read the book cover to cover, then go back and pick the chapters that are most relevant to your pressing health concerns. After you’ve done that, you create your personal plan using the outline given at the end of the book. Sometimes, it’s this kind of attention to detail that makes all the difference when you are trying to improve your personal health.
- “Excuses Begone! How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits” by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer — Sometimes finding the motivation to improve your health comes suddenly, and sometimes it takes people a lifetime of struggles to begin charting a course toward good health. For those who struggle, sometimes it is the person you look at in your bathroom mirror every morning who’s getting in your way.
While this isn’t specifically a health book, the excuses you make up for not exercising more or eating healthier foods do involve your health, so giving yourself a little tough love in the form of a well-written book should go a long way to helping you achieve better health. Dr. Dyer has a gentle way of helping weave philosophy and anecdotes into a form that make you want to put his words into action.
What health-related books are on your e-reader?
Photo Credit: jeff_golden
