Archives de catégorie : Nonfiction

WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT de Courtney Conley & Milica McDowell

Step into a world where walking isn’t just a leisurely activity or a form of personal transportation, but a vital component of human existence. In WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT we dive deep into the undeniable truth that walking is as essential to our well-being as breathing and sleeping.

WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT
by Dr. Courtney Conley, DC & Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT
Balance/Hachette, 2026
(via Mendel Media Group)

With a blend of scientific rigor and accessible language, we shatter the misconception that walking is merely exercise or an optional pastime. Instead, we present a compelling case for walking as a physiological necessity, crucial for both thriving and surviving in the modern world.

Despite its myriad benefits for physical and mental health, walking remains one of society’s most under-prescribed medicines. We confront the paradox: if walking is so beneficial, why are participation rates plummeting? The 10,000-step mantra, once hailed as the gold standard for health, has inadvertently deterred many from even attempting to step out. We dissect this myth and unveil the numerous barriers—pain, time constraints, inappropriate footwear—that hinder widespread adoption of walking.

Our book is a beacon of clarity amidst the complexity of scientific discourse. We distill intricate concepts into actionable strategies, empowering readers to embrace walking confidently and safely.

But WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT is more than a guide to walking—it’s a journey through human evolution, exploring how our bodies were designed for movement. We uncover the stark realities of modern walking deficits and the alarming impact of footwear on our sedentary lifestyles.

Armed with evidence from global scientific studies, we reveal the transformative power of walking to combat common physical and mental health conditions and enhance overall well-being. From reducing depression to increasing longevity, each step contributes to a healthier, happier life

As readers walk through each chapter, they’ll find themselves increasingly inspired to lace up their shoes and hit the pavement. We provide practical “Movement Snacks,” micro-actions that make walking more accessible and enjoyable. Our goal is simple: to ignite a global movement towards personalized walking practices, unlocking the boundless benefits for mind, body, and community.

WALK: YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT isn’t just a book—it’s a rallying cry for a healthier, more active world.

Dr. Courtney Conley is a distinguished figure in the field of foot and gait specialization. She holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine as well as two bachelor’s degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. She has worked with many professional athletic teams in the US. In addition to being featured on numerous websites, interviews, providing consultation work to private clients and organizations, Dr. Conley was the featured guest on Dr. Peter Attia’s podcast The Drive on April 1, 2024. She is widely published digitally, with content spanning walking, gait, footwear, and foot mechanics. She is the founder of Gait Happens, a global enterprise that is leading a paradigm shift in digital foot health education, offering innovative solutions to reclaim optimized foot function and economical gait mechanics.

Dr. Milica McDowell, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, has held various professional roles in adult and medical education throughout her career. She served as a university faculty member in Human Performance for nearly a decade, has developed numerous medical education curricula and has been an invited speaker on many national stages, including the American Physical Therapy Association and American College of Sports Medicine’s conventions. She has been an invited presenter for numerous professional organizations, and she has delivered over 300 educational lectures at state, regional, and national levels. She is currently a product spokesperson for a $50MM health and fitness product company alongside retired NFL Quarterback Drew Brees.

COOKING AS THERAPY de Debra Borden

Follow 20 recipes to find calm, improve self-esteem, and form daily habits—in your very own kitchen!—through mindfulness-based cooking therapy.

COOKING AS THERAPY:
How to Improve Mental Health Through Cooking
by Debra Borden
Alcove Press, November 2025

Follow 20 recipes to find calm, improve self-esteem, and form daily habits—in your very own kitchen!—through mindfulness-based cooking therapy.

In COOKING AS THERAPY, licensed clinical social worker and Sous Therapist Debra Borden provides you with all the tools and techniques to have therapy sessions in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Cooking therapy is an experiential therapy that allows you to conduct a therapy session while you cook a meal. Using cooking processes like chopping, kneading, stirring and more, you’ll develop the skills to recognize limiting patterns and behaviors, improve self-esteem, and form healthy daily habits, and you might even have fun incorporating techniques centered around:

– mindfulness—which develops calm

– metaphor—which creates clarity, and

– mastery—which sparks self-esteem.

Luckily, you don’t have to be a great cook to try cooking therapy—or even like cooking. You only need an interest in self-exploration. Borden will teach you the processes involved in preparing a recipe or meal that trigger awareness and even “aha” moments. Unlike talk therapy, cooking therapy sessions incorporate tangible acts. It is less about what you prepare and more of a guided journey to self-reflection through how you prepare a dish.

Debra Borden is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NY and NJ and a novelist. Her essays and articles have appeared in Women’s Health Magazine and the New York Times. A pioneer in the field of cooking therapy, Debra is thrilled and grateful to be a part of the creative community of mental health professionals, writers, and foodies.

SMALL HABITS, LASTING CHANGE de Tal Ben-Shahar

Cultivate lasting change with simple habits, fromNew York Times bestselling author Tal Ben-Shahar.

SMALL HABITS, LASTING CHANGE
by Tal Ben-Shahar
Alcove Press, January 2026

Do you struggle to make real change because you’re starting too big without building a foundation first ? get a new job, lose twenty pounds, learn a new language? Maybe the tools at your disposal seem inadequate, the prospect of change overwhelms you, and you feel stuck.

In SMALL HABITS, LASTING CHANGE, happiness expert Tal Ben-Shahar provides accessible and easy-to-implement tools, and an easy-to-follow three step process, that can help you realize your goals, aspirations, and dreams.

He starts with simple intervention techniques to reset your mood in as little time as possible—what he calls Happiness Boosters in the form of MVIs (Minimum Viable Interventions), which include:

– Taking three deep breaths
– Writing down five things for which you are grateful
– Reading a quote slowly and deliberately
– Vigorously climbing stairs for 45 seconds

From there, discover how to improve well-being—spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional—and build a stronger base within yourself for committing to change, increasing your willpower, and finding joy in the journey.

The final step in Ben-Shahar’s guide will help you learn how to create the daily rituals that will help you turn goals into habits, and intentions into reality, using the 3 Rs of change:

– Reminders
– Repetitions
– Rituals

With concrete examples, practical, direct advice, and an easy-to-follow action plan, Ben-Shahar shows you that while cultivating lasting change takes motivation, it does not have to be a frustrating experience that is doomed to failure: you’re just starting without the foundation you need for real change.

Tal Ben-Shahar is the New York Times bestselling author of Happier and the co-founder and chief learning officer of The Happiness Studies Academy. He taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, “Positive Psychology” and “The Psychology of Leadership.” In 2022, Tal designed and launched the world’s first Master’s Degree in Happiness Studies in collaboration with Centenary University. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have appeared on bestseller lists around the world.

THE NATRUAL LAW d’Amish Shah

Based on the author’s award-winning documentary, endorsed by Deepak Chopra, THE NATURAL LAW is a transformative guide to Ayurveda for healing, happiness, and connection, sharing the author’s personal health journey and the advice of renowned experts, and offering simple practices for readers to incorporate the power of Ayurveda into their daily lives.

THE NATRUAL LAW:
The Ancient Wisdom of Ayurveda for Modern Healing, Happiness, and Connection
by Amish Shah
Union Square, March 2026
(via Park, Fine & Brower Literary)

Despite being a tech millionaire with access to every specialist under the sun, Amish Shah was brought seemingly to death’s doorstep by a series of mystery symptoms that no Western diagnosis could solve. He credits Ayurveda and a return to his Indian roots with saving his life—the documentary shared his journey, including his interviewing 72+ of the world’s leading experts, and this book offers a deeper dive into the Ayurvedic practices that changed his life, with practical guidance for readers to experience similarly transformative results.

Ayurveda offers a transformative framework for thinking about your health. Its healing modalities include herbal medicine, yoga, dietary changes, acupuncture, fasting, massage therapy, and more, all based on understanding your dominant dosha—Vata (air), Pitta (fire), or Kapha (earth/water)—and how to rebalance it for better energy, vitality, and joy, as well as improved relationships, sleep, focus, and presence.

Readers today don’t want another diet. They are looking for profound practices to feel better in their bodies and their lives. Ayurveda has provided that for centuries, and people are finding it through a new lens, en masse, with THE NATURAL LAW.

Amish Shah is a three time “Inc. 500”-listed entrepreneur and philanthropist with a twenty-year career in the fields of health, wellness, and spirituality. His latest documentary project, The Natural Law, has already won nine International Film Festival Awards. Amish’s dedication to holistic wellness extends beyond his work as an entrepreneur and filmmaker, as demonstrated by his two hundred-hour yoga certification and numerous meditation certifications

ZEN ECOLOGY de Christopher Ives

Discover a way of living that can help you slow down and stay grounded—and at the same time reduce your ecological impact and engage more fully with the climate crisis.

ZEN ECOLOGY
by Christopher Ives
Wisdom Publications, March 2025

It may seem as though living ecologically and engaging in activism sacrifices our own enjoyment and happiness on the altar of doing the right thing. In this book, professor, naturalist, and Buddhist author Christopher Ives offers an alternative: a way of living that can actually be more fulfilling than the modern consumerist lifestyle. Rather than deprivation, it can bring us richness.

In Zen Ecology, Chris outlines his environmental ethic as a series of concentric circles, beginning with ourselves and then moving outward into our communities, all the while focusing on spaciousness, mindfulness, generosity, and contentment. At the individual level, we deal with distraction, clutter, and ecological harm. Here, Chris offers ways to help us pay attention, simplify our lives, and lower our impact. Then, we explore how to envision our home as a “place of the Way,” with Zen monastic life as a model for this—without having to be a monk! Next, we realize our embeddedness in nature and emplace ourselves in community with others, including other forms of life. Finally, we build on this basis to engage in activism to create a world that is more supportive of ecological health and spiritual fulfillment.

In this way, we avoid the two extremes of apathy and burnout, and uncover a way of living that is simple, joyful, embedded in nature, connected to others in community, and supportive of collective action.

Christopher Ives is a professor of religious studies at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. In his teaching and writing, he focuses on ethics in Zen Buddhism and Buddhist approaches to nature and environmental issues. His publications include Zen on the Trail: Hiking as Pilgrimage; Meditations on the Trail: A Guidebook for Self-Discovery; Imperial-Way Zen: Ichikawa Hakugen’s Critique and Lingering Questions for Buddhist Ethics; Zen Awakening and Society; a translation (with Masao Abe) of Nishida Kitaro’s An Inquiry into the Good; a translation (with Gishin Tokiwa) of Shin’ichi Hisamatsu’s Critical Sermons of the Zen Tradition. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Buddhist Ethics.