Health & Science Book Summaries

The Omnivore's Dilemma is about where our food comes from. Michael Pollan went on a journey through the big food industry and discovered processed corn is in almost everything we eat. He also explored 'alternative' food systems like a smaller organic farm and finding wild food in the forest.

Lifespan is about how to live longer and healthier, according to the latest science. Harvard researcher David Sinclair says that aging is a disease that will be treatable and—perhaps one day—completely preventable. For now, we can boost our longevity with practices like fasting, exercise and cold exposure.

Grain Brain is about improving brain health through eating more "good fats" and less grains, sugars and processed carbs. Dr. Perlmutter says this diet helped many of his patients lower their weight, blood sugar, inflammation and cholesterol levels—thereby decreasing their risk for dementia, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Sapiens is about how we went from being simple primates 2.5 million years ago... to walking on the moon. Yuval Noah Harari explores the Cognitive, Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions, which made us who we are today. He says common myths like money, laws and nations hold human societies together.

Fast Food Nation reveals how big fast food companies reshaped America in pursuit of profit. Eric Schlosser shows how marketing aimed at kids created an explosion of obesity, how big corporations have eliminated many small farmers, and why meatpacking plants can be extremely unsafe and unclean workplaces.

How to Not Die reveals the connection between what we eat and chronic diseases. Based on hundreds of references to scientific evidence, Dr. Michael Greger shows how to prevent (and even reverse) the top causes of death like heart disease, most cancers, diabetes, obesity, strokes and Alzheimer's.

Why We Sleep communicates the critical importance of sleep. Modern people don't know that getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep daily can cause dozens of serious problems for mental and physical health. Matthew Walker first helps you understand how sleep works, then how to get better sleep.

The Plant Paradox says lectins are bad. Lectins are proteins hidden in some plants like grains, beans and tomatoes. Dr. Gundry claims they cause many health problems rampant today (like obesity, diabetes and autoimmune diseases) and if you avoid lectin-producing plants, you will lose weight, live longer and feel better.