From Book-Hater to Health Nerd: 20 health Books That Changed My Life
Let me be real with you. Growing up, I hated reading. Like, truly hated it. If someone had given me the choice between reading a book or watching paint dry, I’d have chosen the paint. Every time.
I resisted reading, not the act of reading, but what I was reading. Nothing felt relevant or useful. That all changed when I found the one thing that flipped a switch for me–health.
More specifically, the kind of health that makes you feel alive again. Human biology. Energy systems. Why modern diets break us. How light, breath, food, and environment shape our inner world. That kind of health.
Once I found that path, I couldn’t stop reading. Books became a portal, not just to knowledge, but to becoming a better clinician, thinker, and human.
Today, I want to share the 20 books that have impacted me the most over the last decade. These are the ones I still recommend to clients, friends, family, and revisit myself. They’ve saved me from wasting time on fluff and fast takes. Maybe they’ll do the same for you.
Reading Is a Biohack
Here’s the truth most people miss–reading is a health tool.
Let’s break that down:
📖 It rewires your brain – Studies show reading activates more brain regions than watching a video or listening to audio. It strengthens memory, attention, and focus. Reading fiction even enhances empathy and brain connectivity.
🧠 It slows cognitive decline – One study found people who read regularly experience a 32% slower mental decline. That’s not a stat you want to ignore.
💡 It boosts intelligence – Reading expands your vocabulary, sharpens your comprehension, and elevates your ability to reason. That’s true whether you're 9 or 90.
😴 It improves sleep – A few pages of a physical book before bed (no screens) helps your brain wind down. I’ve personally found it knocks me out faster than any sleep supplement.
🛡️ It reduces stress – According to a University of Sussex study, reading for just 6 minutes can lower stress levels by up to 68%. That’s more effective than tea, music, or a walk.
Why Reading Matters for Health
In a world full of bite-sized reels, rapid-fire podcasts, and flashy headlines, books offer something rare–depth.
🧠 They sharpen your critical thinking.
📚 They give you context and nuance.
🔍 They help you see the patterns across disciplines—nutrition, biology, light, behaviour, toxins, evolution.
Most importantly, they help you apply it to real life. To your body. To your health journey.
Reading is not a chore. It’s a skill. A muscle. A form of self-care.
It’s a biohack. And one of the most underutilised.
20 Health + Wellness Books That Changed the Game for Me
These aren’t ranked, but each one offered a breakthrough moment—either in my understanding of the human body, my mindset, or how I show up for clients. Here’s the breakdown, with my honest reflections. (In no particular order, I have shared an affiliated Amazon link, linked to the book title, to all the books that helped support my time in writing these articles.)
1. Survival of the Fattest – Sir Michael Crawford
🔍 Why it’s gold: Explores how DHA, ketones, and fat stores helped shape human evolution. Essential for understanding brain development and maternal health.
📍Takeaway: Fat isn’t the enemy—our species was built on it.
2. The Bulletproof Diet – Dave Asprey
💭 I don’t align with all of Dave’s methods now (especially the butter-bomb coffee). But it introduced me to systems thinking around diet and performance.
📍Takeaway: Every diet trend has roots—this one overlaps a lot with animal-based living.
3. Epi-Paleo Rx – Dr. Jack Kruse
🧬 One of the most impactful reads of my early career. Simple, brilliant, and grounded in quantum biology.
📍Takeaway: Your environment (light, magnetism, water) is just as critical as your food.
4. The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday
🧠 Not about health per se, but a mindset handbook. Something I keep by the toilet—seriously.
📍Takeaway: A calm, clear mind makes better health decisions.
5. The Rhythms of Life – Dr. Russell Foster
🌞 An entry point into circadian biology. I read this in Tulum five years ago and it forever shaped how I view light and time.
📍Takeaway: Your body runs on light. Ignore it at your peril.
6. The Vital Question – Nick Lane
⚡ For the deep thinkers. Unpacks the origin of life through mitochondria and energy systems. Big brain stuff.
📍Takeaway: Energy is the foundation of life. Understand it, and you understand health.
7. Sleep Smarter – Dr. Shawn Stevenson
🛏️ More accessible than Matthew Walker’s sleep book. Practical, underrated, and easier to implement.
📍Takeaway: Sleep is a non-negotiable pillar for health recovery.
8. The Hungry Brain – Stephan Guyenet
🍽️ Explains why we overeat, how calories affect the brain, and why willpower isn’t the solution.
📍Takeaway: Hunger is neurochemical. Understand it before you try to control it.
9. The Salt Fix – Dr. James DiNicolantonio
🧂 A myth-busting book that reclaims salt’s role in human health.
📍Takeaway: Salt is essential, not sinful.
10. Light: Medicine of the Future – Jacob Liberman
☀️ A pioneer in the light space. Connects natural light exposure to healing.
📍Takeaway: You’re not just what you eat—you’re what you absorb from your environment.
11. Life on the Edge – Jim Al-Khalili
⚛️ The best intro to quantum biology—makes it digestible and fascinating.
📍Takeaway: Your body isn’t mechanical; it’s quantum.
12. Health and Light – Dr. John Ott
🔬 A bit more observational but shines light on “malillumination”—our lack of sunlight exposure.
📍Takeaway: Like malnutrition, there’s mal-lighting. Fix that first.
13. The Carnivore Code – Paul Saladino
🥩 A gateway for sceptics. Paul popularised animal-based eating, even if he missed the quantum boat.
📍Takeaway: Meat heals—but nuance matters.
14. Slow Death by Rubber Duck – Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie
🧪 Plastics. Endocrine disruptors. Everyday toxins. It’s all in here.
📍Takeaway: Toxin overload isn’t fear-mongering—it’s reality.
15. Chasing the Sun – Linda Geddes
📖 A lighter, story-driven book about cultures and sunlight.
📍Takeaway: The pursuit of the sun is ancestral. Honour it.
16. The Oxygen Advantage – Patrick McKeown
🌬️ I read this in two days under the sun in Richmond Park. It transformed how I think about breathing.
📍Takeaway: Breath is medicine. And it’s free.
17. The Spark in the Machine – Dr. Daniel Keown
🧵 Connects fascia, acupuncture, mitochondria, and Chinese medicine. I read this living by the beach in Nicaragua.
📍Takeaway: There’s a deeper intelligence in the body than we give credit to.
18. An Epidemic of Absence – Moises Velasquez-Manoff
🧫 All about immune resilience and how we’ve lost microbial diversity.
📍Takeaway: Health isn’t about being sterile. It’s about exposure.
19. Toxic Legacy – Dr. Stephanie Seneff
🌾 Glyphosate, collagen disruption, metabolic chaos. This one goes deep.
📍Takeaway: If you care about food, you have to care about glyphosate.
20. The Five Appetites – David Raubenheimer
🍗 Blends evolutionary biology with food science.
📍Takeaway: Appetite is wired. Modern food hijacks it.
Final Thought: Read for Your Health
I've learned this in 7+ years of clinical experience–context is king. Not every book will apply to you right now, but they will equip you with frameworks to understand yourself better.
Let reading become your slow medicine.
Your stress reliever.
Your brain gym.
Your BS detector.
Your guide through complexity.
If you’re serious about reclaiming your health, start with your attention span.
