The Wellness Project by Phoebe Lapine – A Review

The Wellness Project: A Hedonist’s Guide to Making Healthier Choices by Phoebe Lapine
Wellness | Health | Nonfiction
Published by Pam Krauss/Avery
Released April 4, 2017
Goodreads | Amazon
Rating:

You’re going to start seeing more non-fiction book reviews, especially health and wellness ones. I’m starting to pay a lot more attention to my body and mind and the connection between the two, and my favorite way to learn new information is through, well, reading (big surprise, right?!).

I came across Phoebe Lapine’s book at my local library. I loved the premise of it – Lapine would take on twelve months of wellness challenges and document what happens. This sort of year-long challenge has been something that I’ve always wanted to try, but due to a tight budget, it’s probably not happening anytime soon. Thus, I decided to live vicariously through Lapine.

Here’s a quick run-down on the challenges that she takes on: vices, beauty and skincare, diet, cooking, clean water, physical therapy, fitness, sleep, hormones and women’s health, the gut microbiome, and relaxation. Basically, she tackles many of the biggest problems keeping us from feeling well.

For each challenge, she gives the reader a detailed introduction about why she chose this particular challenge, facts about the impact that the issue in question has on your body and mood, and tips and advice for changing it. There are also some really amazing recipes scattered throughout the book (the author is a well-known chef).

Phoebe Lapine

While the changes that Lapine undertakes won’t work for everyone, whether it’s due to monetary or dietary or any other restrictions, this book does give you some good ideas of little changes you can make that have a big impact on your overall health.

Lapine’s conversational tone of voice made The Wellness Project entertaining and accessible. Not everyone wants a science-heavy textbook-style health book, and for people that want something lighter, this book would be perfect for them. I always recommend doing your own research on claims that might seem a little far-fetched to you (as well as talking to your doctor). Obviously, just because the information was published in a book doesn’t always make it right.

There were times when I wish the author had taken a more scientific approach to the challenges, as there are many times when she consults with some naturopaths and undertakes some slightly woo-woo cures. I’m not opposed to natural medicine – I actually believe that natural medicine is a great first step is becoming healthy, although when those natural cures do not work, modern medicine is the obvious next step. I wouldn’t have had a problem with those natural cures if she had discussed them with a licensed doctor and given us their views on it.

Overall, I think this is a great book for people who want to learn how to make small changes to improve their overall life. While not perfect, it is a great starting point for people starting on their wellness journey.

---

What’s your favorite piece of advice for improving wellness? Let us know in the comments!

---

Looking for more health and wellness recommendations?

Healthy as F*ck | The Transformation | Perfectly Hidden Depression | The Case Against Sugar

---

---

---

Don’t forget to follow me on social media:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon Wishlist

If you would like to support Read Yourself Happy, you can donate through Ko-Fi!