Wellness Wednesday: 5 books to boost your happy & healthy summer
Sarah Gelman | June 16, 2021
Just like the idea of “wellness,” the term “hot vax summer” means different things to all of us. As a happily married woman, my idea of living my best summer ever is surrounding myself with things that make me feel healthier and happier—inside and out.
Below is my curated list of five books that will help you make the most of your summer. Don’t worry: this list doesn’t include one book that focuses on ab muscles (but it does include one on gut health), and margaritas are very much allowed.
Stay healthy, wear sunscreen, and enjoy your summer!
True story: I stink at yoga. My body prefers to move hard, not move gentle, and my mind never shuts off. In his book Chatter, Ethan Kross alleviated all the guilt I’ve felt while trying to love yoga and silence my inner voice. We all have that voice, and Kross—to greatly oversimplify—shows the reader how to use that voice for good (you got this!) rather than evil (you’re way too old for those jeans!). Told through compelling anecdotes and new science, Chatter feels like a fascinating validation of the voice inside your head, rather than a boring science lecture. If you need me, I’ll be out running, coaching myself along with my favorite mantra: “One, two, three, four! Faster, faster, more, more!” We loved this book so much we named it one of the Top 10 Best Books of 2021 So Far. Does getting excited about a book on gut health make me lame? Heck, no! In fact, superstar chef Jamie Oliver himself is quoted on the book’s cover: “Learn to love your gut with this jam-packed book.” If it’s good enough for Jamie’s gut, it’s good enough for mine. Sure, gut health may not be first date talk, but a healthy microbiome has shown to support immunity and fuel metabolism. Love Your Gut starts with gut education 101, then moves to recipes for every meal, including dessert, and a section on fermentation.
Yumiko Sekine is the founder of the lifestyle brand Fog Linen Work. In this beautiful book (that you’ll want to keep on display) she shares tips and techniques to model the Japanese art of simplicity in your own home. Broken up by seasons, the book’s Summer section includes various ways to use summer linens, a recipe perfect for summer meals, and—my personal favorite—a tutorial on the art of kintsugi, a technique to repair broken ceramics with a gold paste.
You may recognize Gourdet as “Gregory from Top Chef,” but this cookbook is for a broader audience than those of us with a culinary degree. After getting sober, Gourdet decided to clean up his diet as well, concentrating on healthy, flavorful, and global foods. With 200 recipes and gorgeous food photography, this is the book to turn to when you’re entertaining this summer and hope to leave the table energized, rather than bloated. Bringing in a truly global perspective—Gourdet is of Haitian descent, trained in French cooking, and is inspired by many different cuisines—Everyone’s Table deserves to sit out on your counter all summer.
This beautiful book, compiled by publisher DK, captures the spirit of what I love about plants and gardening. Spending time in nature can actually make us less anxious, more relaxed, and just plain happier. (For a great book about this phenomenon, check out The Nature Fix by Florence Williams.) Your Well-Being Garden offers tips on everything from creating a sacred space within your garden to how to make the most of plants’ scents. 
