Book Review: November 2024
This month was tough for me. I feel like I lost my spark and had trouble accessing joy. I think I actually cried while listening to / reading each of these books (for a variety of reason). That doesn’t mean you’ll cry…just that it’s been an emotional month and books really hit me.
What books are you enjoying (or not!) this month?
"Cassandra Speaks” by Elizabeth Lesser
4 stars
Equal parts joyful and depressing (although likely because of the timing of the book) I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology so to dive into the story of Cassandra (who spoke the truth but no one believed her) left me with a tender heart on the heels of the devastating election results. I listened to the audio book on the way to a yoga retreat and it brought me to tears. To understand the long history of the patriarchy is to understand how we can fight back against it. A good reminder that history isn't what happened, it's who is telling the story. And for far too long, men have been the only story tellers, their narratives lifted up as "truth" It's time for that to stop. As women we must share our voices to the choir of other women who are seeking a more compassionate and just world...for all humans. This was the feminist book my heart needed during a time of deep sorrow. More about the author can be found here.
"The Women” by Kristin Hannah
4 stars
War sucks. For men, yes but perhaps more so for women who are devalued in war despite having to do so much. This historical fiction set during the Vietnam War reminded me how strong women are, in the face of unspeakable violence. A little cheesy / cliche in some parts but deeply moving with a focus on female friendship. The 3 women of the story came together despite challenges to support each other towards healing. The mishandling of the war, propaganda back in the States and the treatment of returning soldiers are all interesting topics for future consideration. If you want to cry, pick this up. It was also the only fiction book / novel I read in the month of November so perhaps that’s saying something.
"The Sleep Revolution” by Arianna Huffington
4 stars
A whole book about sleep? Yes, please! One of the pillars of health, sleep is not respected in our American "hustle" culture. This, despite many stats confirming that if your mantra is "I'll sleep when I'm dead" that you will in fact be dead sooner. Not only is poor sleep hygiene linked to early death but also to depression, heart disease and obesity. I talk with health coaching clients about this all the time: Even if you have movement and nutrition dialed, if healthy sleep isn't a part of your wellness plan you won't be living your best life. I was already a believer in sleep as medicine but if you need lots of facts, figures and suggestions, give this a read.
"Good Energy” by Dr. Casey Means
4 stars
At several points listening to this book I became enraged with the sickcare system (nothing new for me as I have been fighting the evil giant known as Johns Hopkins Medicine for the past 10 month about a disputed charge.) The really big bummer is that we spend more on sickcare (I refuse to call it healthcare) than any other country yet we are sicker than ever, we are not getting healthier. Through my personal experiences and in reading a book like this, I am disheartened to realize that the industrial sickcare system sees me as just a customer. I'm an ICD-10 code, a billable line item. As a Health Coach, I've already been sharing some of these practices like getting outdoor sunlight 1st thing in the morning, avoiding HFCS, reducing screen time in the evening and moving the body regularly throughout the day. No one is coming to save you, each of us must commit to making investments in our health and Dr. Means makes a variety of suggestions (some more realistic / plausible than others) You cannot "hack" your way to health and it's not a one size fits all plan. It takes time and dedication, persistence and creativity. More information about Dr. Means here
Monthly book total: 4
Annual book total: 51