Health & Science Book Summaries

Homo Deus offers a thought-provoking look into humanity's future; It talks about how advances in technologies like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering could radically transform us. Yuval Noah Harari proposes the uncomfortable notion that we may try to become like gods to avoid death and unhappiness.

The Obesity Code is about a different approach to losing weight, not through cutting fat or calories, but through controlling our hormone insulin. Dr. Fung recommends a low-carb healthy-fat diet filled with whole unprocessed foods, as well as intermittent fasting.

The Emperor of All Maladies is about the incredible history of "The War Against Cancer" and helps us to understand this terrible disease. Siddhartha Mukherjee explains the most common cancer treatments, including the science and story behind them.

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.