We are all on this roller coaster called life together, yet many of us hesitate to reach out for help when we experience the inevitable twist and turns along the way. And while the perfect book can’t replace a warm hug or sound advice from a friend, a solid reading list is a great place to start. Books that support your soul and inspire you to live a healthier and more vibrant life can help spark ideas or create a framework from which you can design a life you love.
Fall, with her shorter days and cooler temperatures, is almost begging us to slow down and turn inward. It’s the perfect time of year to cozy up with a good book, cup of tea, and favorite candle as you explore ways to invite more balance, abundance, serenity, and health into your life. We’ve compiled a short list with a few of our favorite books to get you started.
Braiding Sweetgrass
In Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass, she explores the reciprocal relationship among all beings and how the tools of science relate to indigenous wisdom. It’s a book about learning to live in harmony with nature, rather than ignoring it or trying to dominate it. Kimmerer sheds light on the connection between living things and human efforts to cultivate a more sustainable world through the lens of indigenous traditions.
If you enjoy a good story, you’ll appreciate Kimmerer’s approachable narrative that is equal parts potent and funny. If you are someone who also revels in natural beauty, then her unique view on how to care for mother nature will appeal to your ecological consciousness.
The Little Book Hygge
Loosely translated, Hygge, pronounced “Hoo-ga,” is a sense of coziness, togetherness, and well-being. We think The Little Book Hygge should be on everyone’s reading list! It’s a book about the hard-to-describe, yet powerful, Danish attitude towards life, which consistently ranks Denmark among the happiest countries in the world.
It is a charmingly beautiful manual, aimed at improving our lives, through embracing comfort, warmth, and generosity. Learn their secrets and how you can cultivate Hygge for yourself, regardless of your circumstances.
The Nourished Kitchen
The Nourished Kitchen is full of wholesome, nourishing recipes that have sustained healthy people for millennia. More than just a cookbook, The Nourished Kitchen is farmhouse wisdom at its finest and teaches a mindful approach to cooking that celebrates old-world culinary traditions, which you can incorporate into your modern life for better health today.
Regardless of where you are on your wellness journey, The Nourished Kitchen has plenty to savor. It’s a great book to add to your wellness reading list as it promotes an understanding of the relationship between nutrition and overall health. A traditional foods diet avoids processed foods, includes high-quality animal protein, produce, grains, and fermented foods, and favors locally grown ingredients. By choosing local ingredients, you build a stronger connection to your food and a better understanding of how your diet contributes to your health.
Nourish Your Tribe
Nourish Your Tribe, by Nicole Magryta, a 20-year veteran of clinical nutrition, is a tremendous resource for anyone in search of clear parenting techniques and sound nutritional recommendations to help maximize their family’s health. In today’s sea of information regarding health, it can feel confusing and overwhelming to feed your family but Magryta helps simplify this daily task for us.
In addition to a whole food meal plan with over 60 kid-tested recipes and strategies for picky eaters, Nourish Your Tribe also offers guidelines on how to navigate today’s complex food culture as well as steps to improve your family’s gut health. Magryta provides information on how to strengthen your child’s immune system and improve brain function, sleep, mood, and concentration. She explains the powerful impact food and the environment have on your child’s development and the link between food and common conditions like mood swings, ADHD, anxiety, skin conditions, and other developmental issues.
If you have children in your life or are curious about the food-mood connection and how you can positively influence health and development by what’s at the end of your fork, you will want to add Nourish Your Tribe to your fall reading list!
Woman Code
WomanCode, by Alisa Vitti, is a holistic guide that shows women how to balance their hormones to maintain optimal health and vitality. Vitti connects the dots between women’s hormones, cycles, and symptoms and uses an effective food-based functional nutrition protocol to help women achieve better health.
Accessible and informative, WomanCode educates women about hormone health in a way that is relevant, easy to understand, and transformative. It’s a brilliant nutritional program for the many hormonal challenges that often prevent women from looking and feeling their best. Vitti’s mission is to empower women to heal their bodies through food and lifestyle changes and WomanCode is a ground-breaking tool in this quest.
These are just some of the amazing books that are on our fall reading list this year. The only thing better than a great book, in our opinion, is someone with whom you can discuss it. When you join Ohana, your all-access membership not only gives you free childcare and unlimited yoga and barre classes, but it also enables you to join our online community app and have access to in-person events so you can find more friends to trade reads with!
Erin Entlich is a certified yoga instructor, personal trainer, holistic health coach, and writer. She believes doing good starts with feeling good, which is why she loves helping people weave movement, mindfulness, and healthy eating into their daily lives. Find out more at www.erinentlich.com.