Book Review: Younger Forever

Younger Forever: A SuperAger’s Guide to Life After 50 by Chris Crowley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The central message of the book is that regular exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, strength training, social engagement, and a sense of purpose can help people stay healthier, more active, and more resilient after age 50.

Author Chris Crowley draws on his personal experience and knowledge to show you how to navigate your own healthy “third act.” This does not replace evidence-based advice. The tone is energetic and motivating.

While the author’s personal experience is the book’s greatest strength, it is also its main limitation. He is an unusually active, affluent, and highly motivated individual; his success cannot be generalized to populations with different socioeconomic circumstances, cultures, physical abilities, health conditions, or access to exercise, nutritious food, healthcare, and social resources.

Regardless, I’d recommend it as a worthwhile read for everyone, for its uplifting and inspiring tone and practical recommendations.

View all my reviews

Review of Younger Forever on LinkedIn

Book Review: Big Time

Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance by Laura Vanderkam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I recently read Laura Vanderkam’s Big Time: A Simple Path to Abundance, a practical and insightful book about changing how we think about and use our time. Her central message is that, rather than viewing time as scarce, we can be more intentional about how we spend the 168 hours available to us each week—and, ideally, learn to love how we spend our days.

A few ideas stood out: track how you actually spend your hours, think in terms of a 168-hour week rather than a single day, dream big while planning small, and deliberately protect time for health, relationships, work, and joy.

From a nutrition perspective, I found the message especially relevant. Healthy habits don’t require a perfect schedule or large blocks of free time. Small, consistent choices—planning meals, preparing nutritious food, taking a walk, or making time for sleep—can add up over weeks and months.

One important caveat: the idea of “time abundance” may resonate differently depending on a person’s circumstances. Long work hours, caregiving responsibilities, and limited resources can create very real constraints on how much control someone has over their time.

My favorite idea from the book? Choose a yearlong project and make steady progress toward completing it. There’s something powerful about giving yourself an entire year to work on something meaningful.

I highly recommend Big Time to anyone interested in productivity, time management, and being more intentional about how they spend their days.

View all my reviews

Review of Big Time on LinkedIn

Book Review: The Nozempic Diet

The Nozempic Diet by Kim Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Nozempic Diet presents an eight-pillar approach to weight management that aims to harness the body’s natural appetite and satiety mechanisms without relying on GLP-1 medications. Author Kim Pearson, a nutritionist, focuses on practical habits such as prioritizing protein and fiber, incorporating healthy fats, timing meals to align with the body’s circadian rhythm, getting adequate sleep, and reducing foods and behaviors that may contribute to cravings and overeating.

Basics of the Plan
• Eat three meals a day at regular intervals, 4 – 5 hours apart
• Eat one portion of protein at each meal (150g)
• Eat four portions of healthy fat per day (1tbsp oil or nut butter– 1 portion; 2 tbsp seeds = 1 portion; 20g nuts = 1 portion)
• Eat a minimum of six portions of vegetables/salad per day
• Eat up to 2 portions of fruit per day with meals
• Use healthy seasonings, sauces, and dressings to add flavor to dishes
• Drink a minimum of 1.5 liters of filtered water per day
• Avoid sugar, starchy carbs (bread, pasta, noodles), ultra-processed foods, most condiments (BBQ sauce, store-bought dressings), fruit juice, soda, alcohol

The book is practical and actionable with useful tools, such as the seven-day plan, a troubleshooting section, 50+ recipes, accommodations for men and intermittent fasting.

This approach may not work equally well for everyone. In addition to dietary habits, weight regulation is influenced by genetics, medications, medical conditions, environment, sleep, stress, activity, and socioeconomic factors. This book is not a substitute for individualized care for those considering or currently taking GLP-1 medications.

View all my reviews

LinkedIn Review

Book Review: The Good Life

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Good Life explores a timeless question: what makes life happy and fulfilling? Drawing on more than 80 years of research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the authors argue that strong, meaningful relationships are the most consistent predictor of health and happiness. The book offers an engaging overview of relationships in many forms—family, friendships, coworkers, partnerships, and everyday social interactions—while also drawing on insights from philosophy, psychology, public health, and related research.

While the book is thoughtful and accessible, readers seeking a deeper explanation of the study’s design, statistical methods, or broader contributors to happiness may find the analysis somewhat limited. Even so, its central message is practical and memorable: small, intentional efforts to nurture connection can improve both our own lives and the lives of others. By the end, the book makes the importance of relationships feel not only convincing but also actionable.

I particularly enjoyed the personal stories--fascinating and really resonate emotionally with the reader. Additional notable highlights include mapping your social universe, the W.I.S.E.R. model for difficult interactions, and practical ways to strengthen your relationships.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Menopause Gut

The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond by Cynthia Thurlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nurse practitioner Cynthia Thurlow explores the growing body of research linking hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause to alterations in the gut microbiome. The book explains how declining estrogen levels may affect gut health, inflammation, metabolism, immune function, cognition, bone health, and weight regulation. Thurlow emphasizes that lifestyle strategies, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and, when appropriate, hormone therapy, can support healthy aging.

Key takeaways include prioritizing a high-fiber diet to support microbial diversity, minimizing foods and lifestyle factors that disrupt gut health, incorporating regular strength training and exercise, managing stress, optimizing sleep, and understanding the role of hormone replacement therapy.

Readers should note that research on the gut microbiome and menopause is evolving. It is important to consult your doctor before making any significant changes.

This book is recommended for women seeking a deeper understanding of how gut health shapes menopausal outcomes. It may also be valuable for health practitioners who want to incorporate microbiome-focused strategies into midlife metabolic care.

Chapter summaries provide a succinct wrap-up of each chapter. Many personal stories are woven throughout the book, illustrating how to implement her recommendations and the successes achieved. The FAQ and recipes chapters are valuable resources.

If you want to look up the studies supporting her advice, you need to visit her website. The functional perspective may not resonate with all readers.

View all my reviews

LinkedIn Review 

Book Review: Change the Recipe

Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs by José Andrés
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a collection of life lessons from chef, humanitarian, and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés. Drawing on experiences in professional kitchens, disaster response, and decades of bringing people together through food, Andrés shows how cooking can foster resilience, compassion, innovation, and community. He believes strongly that food is far more than nourishment; it is a powerful force for connection and positive change.

One of the book's central messages is that meaningful change often requires adaptability and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Andrés encourages readers to "change the recipe" when circumstances demand it—whether in the kitchen, at work, or in life. We need to stay curious, put people first, and solve problems creatively. His stories reinforce that sharing meals, reducing waste, supporting communities, and responding with generosity are practical ways for everyone to make a difference.

This book is recommended for all readers who want to be inspired and reminded that we can use food to make a difference in our health and the health of those around us. I found it easier to read just one chapter a day, so as not to tire from all of the lessons. Overall, Andrés is an amazing human, and I enjoyed learning more about him.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Eat to Beat Disease

Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself by William W. Li
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was written to give you the knowledge and tools to make better decisions about what to eat every day. This is not a diet book. Instead, it provides scientific evidence and recommendations on foods to incorporate to help prevent or battle disease and support health.

This book has three parts. Part I, Hardwired for Health: Our Body’s Natural Defense Systems, covers the five systems: angiogenesis, regeneration, microbiome, DNA protection, and immunity. Your body uses these systems to fight disease and heal itself.

Part II, Eat to Beat Disease: The Evidence for Food as Medicine, explores how to feed your body to regenerate your health and activate your immune command center. You will learn which foods activate these defense systems, including supporting research and proven results.

The final Part III, Plan, Choose, and Act: Putting Food to Work, covers practical ways to incorporate these foods into your life, including the 5 x 5 x 5 framework, rethinking your kitchen, meal plans, and recipes.

The book offers an accessible overview of emerging nutrition science and reinforces the value of food as a cornerstone of preventive health. It is recommended for all eaters.

This book is a wealth of science-backed information, which can be overwhelming at times.


View all my reviews

LinkedIn review