A new wave of health and science books has arrived, offering profound insights into our brains, bodies, and the pursuit of happiness. From the critical importance of doing nothing to confronting the medicalisation of everyday life, these titles provide evidence-based guidance for navigating modern challenges.
The Vital Power of Rest and 'Doing Nothing'
In 'The Brain at Rest', neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli makes a compelling case for the necessity of downtime. His personal motivation stems from witnessing his father's breakdown after working relentlessly. Jebelli delves into extensive research showing how rest is fundamental for both physical and mental health.
He champions the Dutch concept of 'niksen' – the art of doing nothing. This isn't passive scrolling or watching Netflix, which puts the brain into a state of 'hard fascination', but genuinely sitting, standing, or lying still without purpose. To combat over-scheduling, he recommends the 'black marker test': write down your planned activities for the week and aggressively cross out anything that can be postponed or cancelled.
Another powerful narrative comes from Richard Waters in 'Swimming with the Viking of Skye'. The Lonely Planet writer, diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at 41, found solace and physical relief in cold-water swimming off Skye with adventurer Matt Rhodes. His story is one of resilience, refusing to let 'Parky' dictate his life, and finding peace by accepting life's constant state of flux.
Rethinking Mental Health and the 'Medicalisation of Normal'
Neuropsychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse tackles a pressing issue in 'No More Normal'. He references a 2015 National Union of Students survey finding that 78 per cent of students reported a mental health problem in the past year. Santhouse argues that feelings once considered normal are now frequently pathologised, a trend benefiting pharmaceutical companies and wellness apps.
He warns that our casual use of diagnoses in everyday conversation – labelling someone a narcissist or speculating about ADHD – can be damaging. Medicalising ordinary unhappiness or worry can trap individuals in a fixed identity, preventing natural emotional processing and recovery.
Science-Backed Strategies for Longevity and Daily Health
For those seeking a longer, healthier life, several books offer practical, if unsurprising, advice. Biomedical researcher Professor John Tregoning, in 'Life Forever?', examines the main causes of death – heart disease, stroke, cancer – and tests interventions from diets to gene sequencing. His conclusion is straightforward: daily exercise, minimal alcohol, no smoking, and a healthy, fibre-rich diet are key. He also highlights the importance of strong social connections, evident in long-lived communities in 'blue zones'.
In 'The Dose Effect', T.J. Power focuses on the brain's crucial neurotransmitters: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. He provides actionable tweaks for modern life, with particularly useful advice on phone addiction. Instead of quitting cold turkey, he suggests designating three specific social media 'moments' per day, charging your phone outside the bedroom, and using a stopwatch to maintain focus.
Journalist Sandra Parsons' transformation is documented in 'Age Less'. After a back injury in her mid-40s, she embraced Pilates and a health-focused lifestyle. Now in her early 60s, she claims a biological age of 20. Her three cornerstones are eating slightly less (by about 10%), moving more, and resting more deeply, supplemented by simple tweaks like flossing and avoiding stressful TV before bed.
Understanding Our Immune System and Dreams
Immunologist Professor Daniel M. Davis, in 'Self Defence', demystifies the immune system, explaining its complexity and how it is widely misunderstood. He debunks myths about vitamin C curing colds and questions the efficacy of 'immune-boosting' yoghurts. He intriguingly notes that stress is not a modern invention, with evidence of cortisol in 1,500-year-old Peruvian remains.
Dream scientist Michelle Carr takes readers 'Into the Dream Lab', exploring why we dream, common themes like being chased or falling, and the phenomenon of 'day residue'. She discusses recurring dreams, 'white dreams', and how to gain control over nightmares. She also confirms the 'first-night effect' – poorer sleep in a new environment – likely because the brain remains on high alert.
Finally, in 'Adventures in Fermentation', Dr Johnny Drain celebrates the transformative power of this ancient process. Beyond trendy kefir and kimchi, he explains fermentation's role in chocolate, coffee, and bread, and its life-saving application in producing insulin via yeast since 1982, a process far more efficient than extracting it from pig pancreases. The book is packed with recipes from simple focaccia to complex, gut-boosting krauts.
