Book Review: Life in Five Senses

Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is Gretchen Rubin’s journey of exploring the five senses to connect more with the world and the people around her. She shares experiments, observations, and relevant research. The goal was for her to (1) appreciate moments more fully; (2) get out of her head and into her life; and (3) deepen her knowledge of the world, other people, and herself (p. 8).

If you are a fan of Gretchen Rubin, then you will enjoy this opportunity to get to know her better. Her experiences, discoveries, and suggestions are entertaining and motivating. There is a whole chapter dedicated to jump-starting your quest to connect with your senses, Try This at Home.

This is not a self-help or scientific book. No ground-breaking concepts or ideas are presented.

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Book Review: Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again by Jancee Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a guide for women in their 40s and 50s as their bodies transition through menopause. Author Jancee Dunn shares her personal experience, others’ stories, resources, and recommendations. She incorporates advice from experts backed by scientific studies. This book is recommended to all women so they can be informed, prepared, and navigate what’s ahead.

There are 10 chapters plus a conclusion covering various symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, treatment options, and survival tips. If you have symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, this book will help you identify, address, and move forward in the best possible way.

Dunn offers the following summary of the highlights:
· Be mindful of internalizing what’s known as “gendered ageism”
· Tell loved ones exactly what is going on
· Don’t cover up, minimize, or deny
· Do not randomly Google your symptoms
· Realize that your usual beauty routine may change
· Get moving
· Get support outside your doctor’s office
· Be aware that one treatment may address multiple symptoms
· See a menopause specialist (pp. 191-212)

The research-based, scientifically sound information is approachable. The author weaves her personal experiences with thoughtfulness and humor; the book is helpful and relatable. The recommendations are clear and easy to understand.

If you prefer a textbook or academic tone, you may be disappointed.

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Book Review: From Basic to Bougie

From Basic To Bougie: A Blueprint To Upgrade Your Pet's Diet Safely and Simply by Meghan Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To better support your pet’s health and prevent disease, start by looking at their diet. This book presents three phases that you can move through from basic to bougie: (1) upgrade from the basic diet; (2) enhance meals with the better diet; and (3) optimize meals with the bougie diet.
There are seven chapters: background, master your mindset, upgrade from “the basic diet,” enhance meals with “the better diet,” optimize nutrition with “the bougie diet,” the bougie pet cookbook, and about the author. She offers a free additional resource guide on her website.

The blueprint guides the reader through the process. It is easy to understand, compelling, and inspiring to do better for your pet. I highly recommend this book to all pet owners.

There is eye-opening information about the pet food industry and great advice to go to FDA.gov and look at all the pet food and product recalls. The author’s tone is positive and encouraging. The recipes are not complicated. I appreciated her sharing her journey to better nutrition and health. She eats organic, non-GMO foods, limits processed foods and sugar, reads nutrition labels, and eats primarily home-cooked meals.

Self-published, so you may have to look past some missed edits and odd spacing. There is little information if you are trying to navigate the upgrade with multiple pets.

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