Choose Your Own Disaster


Dana Schwartz - 2018
     Join Dana Schwartz on a journey revisiting all of the awful choices she made in her early twenties through the internet's favorite method of self-knowledge: the quiz. Part-memoir, part-VERY long personality test, Choose Your Own Disaster is a manifesto about the millennial experience and modern feminism and how the easy advice of "you can be anything you want!" is actually pretty fucking difficult when there are so many possible versions of yourself it seems like you could be. Dana has no idea who she is, but at least she knows she's a Carrie, a Ravenclaw, a Raphael, a Belle, a former emo kid, a Twitter addict, and a millennial just trying her best. This long-form personality quiz manages to combine humor with unflinching honesty as one young woman tries to find herself amid the many, many choices that your twenties have to offer.

French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters


Karen Le Billon - 2012
    But she didn't expect to be lectured for slipping her fussing toddler a snack, or to be forbidden from packing her older daughter a school lunch. Karen is intrigued by the fact that French children happily eat everything—from beets to broccoli, from salad to spinach—while French obesity rates are a fraction of what they are in North America.Karen soon begins to see the wisdom in the "food rules" that the French use to foster healthy eating habits and good manners in babies and children. Some of the rules call into question both our eating habits and our parenting styles. Other rules evoke commonsense habits that we used to share but have somehow forgotten. Taken together, the rules suggest that we need to dramatically rethink the way we feed children, at home and at school.Combining personal anecdotes with practical tips and appetizing recipes—including Zucchini and Spinach Puree and Bouillabaisse (Fish Soup) for Babies—French Kids Eat Everything is a humorous, provocative look at families, food, and children that is filled with inspiration and advice that every parent can use.

Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter


Randy L. Schmidt - 2010
    The top-selling American musical act of the 1970s, they delivered the love songs that defined a generation. Karen’s velvety voice on a string of 16 consecutive Top 20 hits from 1970 to 1976—including “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Superstar,” and “Hurting Each Other”—propelled the duo to worldwide stardom and record sales of more than 100 million. During their short musical career, the Carpenters released ten studio albums, toured more than 200 days a year, taped five television specials, and won three Grammys and an American Music Award.            But that’s only a part of Karen’s story. Little Girl Blue reveals Karen’s heartbreaking struggles with her mother, brother, and husband; the intimate disclosures she made to her closest friends; her love for playing drums and her frustrated quest for solo stardom; and the ups and downs of her treatment for anorexia nervosa. After her shocking death at 32 years of age in 1983, she became the proverbial poster child for that disorder; but the other causes of her decline are laid bare for the first time in this moving account.            Little Girl Blue is Karen Carpenter’s definitive biography, based on exclusive interviews with her innermost circle of girlfriends and nearly 100 others, including professional associates, childhood friends, and lovers. It tells a story as touching, warm, and involving as any of Karen’s greatest songs.

Forever Fat Loss: Escape the Low Calorie and Low Carb Diet Traps and Achieve Effortless and Permanent Fat Loss by Working with Your Biology Instead of Against It


Ari Whitten - 2014
    So it’s time to stop fighting against your biology and start working with your biology. Forever Fat Loss will show you how. Eat What You Crave and Get Leaner By the Day Sick of suffering through diets where you need to restrict fat, carbs, or calories? There is a better way. Satisfy your cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty foods, and still reach your fat loss goals effortlessly. Forever Fat Loss sheds light on a whole new way of eating that will keep your taste buds happy without increasing your pants size. Be inspired by the included meal plans, and stay on track with the printable daily habit checklists. Eliminate the Hidden Triggers That Are Keeping You Fat Did you know that one hour of watching television shaves more minutes off your life than one cigarette? How is your sleep affecting your waistline? Why is it that 500 calories of broccoli affects your body differently than 500 calories of processed food? The answers to these questions may hold the secret to why you can’t lose weight, even if you’ve struggled with diet and exercise for years. Forever Fat Loss takes you step by step through scientifically proven methods for increasing health and shedding excess fat. Uncover the Secrets of the Fat Loss Industry Discover the real causes of the obesity epidemic that the fat loss industry never told you…because they aren’t even aware of these causes themselves. Learn why people actually lose weight on low-carb diets. (Hint: it’s not from restricting carbs!) Find out what kind of exercise actually works and how much of it you should be doing. From magnesium and metabolism to insulin and leptin, it’s all covered in this comprehensive plan that will have you working with your biology rather than against it. There’s no excuse--Ari makes this plan accessible to everyone, whether you’re eating the standard American diet from your couch or dashing off to a meeting as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Download this book today and break free from the diet trap FOREVER. For more information and to take the FREE fat loss test, please visit: AriWhitten.com

The Hilarious World of Depression


John Moe - 2020
    As Moe came to terms with his own illness, he began to see similar patterns of behavior and coping mechanisms surfacing in conversations with others, including high-profile comedians who'd struggled with the disease. Moe saw that there was tremendous comfort and community in open dialogue about these shared experiences and that humor had a unique power. Thus was born the podcast The Hilarious World of Depression.Inspired by the immediate success of the podcast, Moe has written a remarkable investigation of the disease, part memoir of his own journey, part treasure trove of laugh-out-loud stories and insights drawn from years of interviews with some of the most brilliant minds facing similar challenges. Throughout the course of this powerful narrative, depression's universal themes come to light, among them, struggles with identity, lack of understanding of the symptoms, the challenges of work-life, self-medicating, the fallout of the disease in the lives of our loved ones, the tragedy of suicide, and the hereditary aspects of the disease.The Hilarious World of Depression illuminates depression in an entirely fresh and inspiring way.

The Smarter Science of Slim: What the Actual Experts Have Proven about Weight Loss, Health, and Fitness


Jonathan Bailor - 2011
    The end result is this very straightforward, simple and easy-to-read book, where Bailor bridges the gap between the academic world and the everyday world to dispel the myths, lies, and corporate sales hype that have fueled the current obesity epidemic. More than any other author in this new century, Bailor has separated scientific fact from weight loss fiction--to deliver a proven, permanent and easy-to-implement fat loss solution. Based on clinically proven research--not trendy opinions--Bailor uses biology and common sense to bring reason to the topic of diet, exercise and weight loss. ------Endorsements------- Proven and practical. Dr. Theodoros Kelesidis Harvard & UCLA Medical Schools The latest and best scientific research. Dr. John J. Ratey Harvard Medical School An important piece of work. Dr. Anthony Accurso Johns Hopkins Smart and health promoting. Dr. JoAnn E. Manson Harvard Medical School The last diet book you will ever need to buy. Dr. Larry Dossey Medical City Dallas Hospital Revolutionary, surprising, and scientifically sound. Dr. Jan Friden University of Gothenburg Compelling, simple, and practical. Dr. Steve Yeaman Newcastle University Stimulating and provocative. Dr. Soren Toubro University of Copenhagen Amazing and important research. Dr. Wayne Westcott Quincy College Brilliant. Will end your confusion once and for all. Dr. William Davis Fellowship of the American College of Cardiology, author of Wheat Belly Bailor's work stands alone. Maik Wiedenbach World Cup and Olympic Athlete Bailor opens the black box of fat loss and makes it simple for you to explore the facts. Joel Harper Dr. Oz Show fitness expert A groundbreaking paradigm shift. It gets results and changes lives. Jade Teta, ND, CSCS

Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny


Holly Madison - 2015
    A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.

Wallflower at the Orgy


Nora Ephron - 1970
    In this classic collection of magazine articles, Ephron does what she does best: embrace American culture with love, cynicism, and unmatched wit. From tracking down the beginnings of the self-help movement to dressing down the fashion world’s most powerful publication to capturing a glimpse of a legendary movie in the making, these timeless pieces tap into our enduring obsessions with celebrity, food, romance, clothes, entertainment, and sex. Whether casting her ingenious eye on renowned director Mike Nichols, Cosmopolitan magazine founder Helen Gurley Brown—or herself, as she chronicles her own beauty makeover—Ephron deftly weaves her journalistic skill with the intimate style of an essayist and the incomparable talent of a great storyteller.

The Book of Delights


Ross Gay - 2019
    His is a meditation on delight that takes a clear-eyed view of the complexities, even the terrors, in his life, including living in America as a black man; the ecological and psychic violence of our consumer culture; the loss of those he loves. Among Gay’s funny, poetic, philosophical delights: the way Botan Rice Candy wrappers melt in your mouth, the volunteer crossing guard with a pronounced tremor whom he imagines as a kind of boat-woman escorting pedestrians across the River Styx, a friend’s unabashed use of air quotes, pickup basketball games, the silent nod of acknowledgment between black people. And more than any other subject, Gay celebrates the beauty of the natural world—his garden, the flowers in the sidewalk, the birds, the bees, the mushrooms, the trees.This is not a book of how-to or inspiration, though it could be read that way. Fans of Roxane Gay, Maggie Nelson, and Kiese Laymon will revel in Gay’s voice, and his insights. The Book of Delights is about our connection to the world, to each other, and the rewards that come from a life closely observed. Gay’s pieces serve as a powerful and necessary reminder that we can, and should, stake out a space in our lives for delight.

F*ck Your Diet: And Other Things My Thighs Tell Me


Chloé Hilliard - 2020
    By the time Chloé Hilliard was 12, she wore a size 12—both shoe and dress—and stood over six feet tall. Fitting in was never an option. That didn’t stop her from trying. Cursed with a “slow metabolism,” “baby weight,” and “big bones,”—the fat trilogy—Chloe turned to fad diets, starvation, pills, and workouts, all of which failed. Realizing that everything—from government policies to corporate capitalism—directly impacts our relationship with food and our waistlines, Chloé changed her outlook on herself and hopes others will do the same for themselves. The perfect mix of cultural commentary, conspiracies, and confessions, F*ck Your Diet pokes fun at the all too familiar, misguided quest for better health, permanent weight loss, and a sense of self-worth.

The Metabolism Miracle


Diane Kress - 2008
    Kress uncovered a link between these patients- medical histories, lab work, and symptoms. Combining this insight with a rethinking of conventional diets-along with the most current medical and nutrition research-Kress formulated The Metabolism Miracle. This comprehensive plan uniquely reprograms the liver and pancreas to promote rapid fat loss, improved lab work, and long-term weight maintenance. Its three clearly explained stages each contain sample menus, recipes, carbohydrate requirements, exercise recommendations, and FAQs. The Metabolism Miracle is the key to permanent weight loss for the millions whose weight-loss goals can be realized through no other program.

Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything


Viktor E. Frankl - 1946
    Frankl held a series of public lectures in Vienna. The psychiatrist, who would soon become world famous, explained his central thoughts on meaning, resilience, and the importance of embracing life even in the face of great adversity.Published here for the very first time in English, Frankl's words resonate as strongly today--as the world faces a coronavirus pandemic, social isolation, and great economic uncertainty--as they did in 1946. He offers an insightful exploration of the maxim "Live as if you were living for the second time," and he unfolds his basic conviction that every crisis contains opportunity. Despite the unspeakable horrors of the camps, Frankl learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to "say yes to life"--a profound and timeless lesson for us all.

War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line


David Nott - 2019
    From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major metropolitan hospital. He is now widely acknowledged as the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world.War Doctor is his extraordinary story, encompassing his surgeries in nearly every major conflict zone since the end of the Cold War, as well as his struggles to return to a “normal” life and routine after each trip. Culminating in his recent trips to war-torn Syria—and the untold story of his efforts to help secure a humanitarian corridor out of besieged Aleppo to evacuate some 50,000 people—War Doctor is a blend of medical memoir, personal journey, and nonfiction thriller that provides unforgettable, at times raw, insight into the human toll of war.

The Abascal Way to Quiet Inflammation + The Abascal Way Cookbook for Health and Weight Loss


Kathy Abascal - 2011
    Some 15 of the adults on Vashon have taken the Abascal Way TQI diet classes a diet now going viral in Seattle and across the country. This simple but sophisticated diet quickly reduces aches and pains, improves the symptoms of chronic illnesses, ignites weight loss, and increases wellbeing. In Michael Overlakes words I came to class overweight, my joints ached, I had psoriasis, IBS, and my blood pressure was out of control even on medication. Two months later, I have lost 22 pounds, I am pain free, my IBS is gone, my skin is clearing, and I am off hypertensive medication and my blood pressure is normal. Rex is an inspiration I weighed over 300 pounds, was a type 2 diabetic on over 100 units of insulin a day, and could not exercise. Today, my doctor says I am no longer diabetic, I no longer use insulin or any other medication. I have lost 85 pounds and am able to exercise again. Dr. Ronald Singler MD, Medical director of the Highline Medical Group recommends Abascal Way classes Kathy Abascal teaches evidence-based, well researched classes on the nourishment human bodies and minds need. The facts, strategies, recipes, and shopping hints are practical and well-prepared. This is the best nutrition class I have ever experienced. I recommend the classes to family, friends, colleagues, co-workers, and patients. All who have taken the class have thanked me. For some particularly stubborn, medically needy friends, I promised to pay for the class if they were dissatisfied. So far, I have not had to pay up. For the first time, these extraordinary classes are now available in book form. The Abascal Way fits all It works for carnivores and vegans, for mainstream American and traditional ethnic diets. Calories are not counted and portions are not limited. Instead, it offers an incredibly satisfying, effective, and healthy way to quickly improve both health and appearance.

Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today's Top Comedy Writers


Mike Sacks - 2014
    Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, from a typical day in the writers’ room at the Onion to why a sketch does or doesn’t make it onto Saturday Night Live, Poking a Dead Frog is a must-read for comedy buffs, writers, and pop culture junkies.