In Defense of Sunlight by Rowan Jacobsen

In Defense of Sunlight
by Rowan Jacobsen

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Scribner
Released: June 16, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A quiet revolution is transforming our understanding of sunlight’s effects on human health. For decades, a “zero-sun” policy has characterized our approach to sun protection, advising us to stay out of the sun whenever possible and apply sunscreen daily to any skin that might be exposed, rain or shine, summer or winter, indoors or out. But recent studies have proved that this policy is thoroughly mistaken and that this prolific misunderstanding is causing us to miss out on many of the health benefits of sun exposure.

In this incisive work, acclaimed journalist Rowan Jacobsen presents the growing case for the importance of modest sun exposure for our health and well-being. Aided by the most up-to-date studies on the effects of sunlight on human health, Jacobsen presents a much-needed, lucid assessment of not only what the sun can do for us, but how a lack of sun could actively be harming us.

In Defense of Sunlight sounds the call on what researchers have been sure of for years, and what health care providers and media outlets have been slow to take that sunlight is one of the simplest, and most equitable, treatments for a variety of health issues, from diabetes to dementia to multiple sclerosis. Laying out the new science of sunlight in a straightforward and responsible manner for mainstream readers, this book is an eye-opening story of scientific discovery, outlining not only best practices for sun exposure, but the story of how current recommendations became misguided, how a few inquisitive scientists glimpsed the truth and deciphered the mechanisms responsible, and how everyone can safely incorporate this new knowledge into their daily lives. It also exposes the implicit injustice underlying current approaches, which benefit the whitest people on earth (who are the most susceptible to skin cancer) at the expense of those with darker skin (who suffer extremely low rates of skin cancer and have the most to gain from sun exposure).

A call for a return to common sense in our relationship with our local star, In Defense of Sunlight offers its own seven words of Get sun. Not too much. Go outside.


My Review:
In Defense of Sunlight discussed scientific studies on the benefits and dangers of sunlight to human health using a historical framework. In the 1800s, scientists realized that lack of sunlight in badly polluted cities was causing rickets in children. Doctors started treating diseases like tuberculosis with sunlight, and the recommendations moved toward nude sunbathing for your health. Scientists discovered vitamin D. So, of course, people made vitamin D pills and UV lamps as health products but discovered neither quite lived up to hopes (though a narrow wavelength UV light can be used to treat multiple sclerosis!).

The author covered the skin cancer scare that lead to the current recommendations as well as the history of sunscreen, its variable effectiveness at blocking UV, and research into if it really does stop skin cancer. He also showed why the actual science is much more nuanced than 'everyone should always wear sunscreen.' You can get many health benefits from the sun while most sun-exposure cancers won't kill you, so informed sun exposure (especially for darker-skinned people) is desirable. After covering recent scientific studies on why getting sun on your skin provides various health benefits, he covered the latest science-based recommendations for how much sun your skin type should get and when is the best times to get it.

Though there is a lot of good scientific information in this book (thank you!), it's an easy read and the science is explained in terms a high schooler could understand. I knew I enjoyed the joint-deep warmth of the sun, and now I better understand why I'm drawn to sun exposure, especially in the morning. It helps your body in a multitude of ways. Overall, I'd highly recommend this informative and interesting book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Unlearn Your Pain by Howard Schubiner, MD

Unlearn Your Pain
by Howard Schubiner, MD

ISBN-13: 9780593994368
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: The Open Field
Released: May 26 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
Migraines, headaches, back pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and a host of other chronic illnesses have caused hardship worldwide. For the past twenty years, Dr. Howard Schubiner has conducted clinical trials and authored more than 100 scientific papers to uncover the root cause of these in challenging illnesses. In Unlearn Your Pain, he shares in inspiring and step-by-step detail the program that has proven to be effective in reversing chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. For most people, the answers lie in the science of neuroplasticity, and this book details a revolutionary program that has saved thousands from a lifetime of misery and depression.

Using the latest research and mind-body practices all confirmed by clinical trials and studies, Dr. Schubiner leads readers to a new understanding of how the mind affects pain and physical and emotional health, and how we can live healthier and better lives.


My Review:
Unlearn Your Pain explains how it is actually your brain that generates pain based on perceived danger, either from further physical damage or emotional distress. While injury can be the cause of pain, this usually resolves when the injury heals. Yet chronic pain and things like depression or anxiety might linger even after the damage is healed--or even be generated because the brain thinks it's keeping you from danger. The author provided many examples of this.

He carefully evaluates patients to see if tissue damage is behind the pain or not. If not, he's developed a couple ways to help your brain feel safe again--safe to move, have energy, and be joyful. The one thing that I felt the author overlooked is how the body can go into "freeze" (of fight, flight, or freeze fame) when a person feels overwhelmed, powerless, or in danger and that's what he's trying to reset with his methods.

The author then described in detail and with real examples how to use his methods on yourself or what a practitioner using these methods will do with you. He also described a number of clinical trials that have tested his methods against other popular chronic pain alternatives like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The results with his methods worked better (greater relief from symptoms) and lasted longer. So if you have chronic pain, fatigue, depression, or anxiety you might try this an see if it helps.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Organ Speak by Giulia Enders

Organ Speak
by Giulia Enders

ISBN-13: 9780063494015
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperOne
Released: April 28, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Organ Speak, German physician Giulia Enders guides us through our inner landscape, introducing us to the unseen heroes of our bodies. She shows how, for thousands of years, our organs have responded to challenges with astonishing intelligence - and that they have much to teach. What, for example, can the immune system tell us about our need to feel safe? How does the process of wound-healing mirror emotional recovery? What do we truly need to thrive?

With vivid stories and the latest science, this book not only opens our eyes to the wonders within but inspires us to approach our bodies with greater mindfulness and trust.


My Review:
Organ Speak is a somewhat philosophical look at the human lungs, immune system, skin, muscles, and brain, ending with the author talking directly to the brain. The author is German. The book has been translated and reads pretty smoothly. The author used a lot of exclamation marks! Sometimes every few sentences! I suppose because she's very astonished, enthusiastic, or surprised by how the organs work.

She didn't get technically detailed but instead described the organs and how they work by using analogies and everyday imagery. Sometimes this got a little confusing for me as I know the actual terms and processes in many cases and it wasn't always immediately clear what she meant to describe. There was some good information worked into the storytelling, but I didn't learn a lot that was new. I think the target audience was a person who knows little about how their organs work but would be bored by a more technically precise explanation.

Each chapter focused on one organ and started with a personal story about a person that the organ reminded the author of followed by an evolution-based origin story of the organ. After that, we're given a series of subtopics describing different aspects of the organ.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Under Siege by Eric Trump

Under Siege
by Eric Trump

ISBN-13: 978-1668205877
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Threshold Editions
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: Friend gave me a copy.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From Eric Trump's earliest memories of growing up as part of the Trump family to pivotal roles in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, spearheading strategies to combat lawfare, and leading the Trump Organization, Eric has been deeply invested in all aspects of his family’s legacy. As one of his father’s original apprentices, Eric has always strived to build on that foundation.

As the Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization since 2015, Eric has navigated the dual worlds of politics and business, growing the company, while battling unprecedented opposition from the media, Democrats, and ongoing legal challenges.

From raids on his childhood home, Mar-a-Lago, to near assassination attempts, from Russiagate to cold and corrupt court rooms, the fake news media, censorship, and character smears—this wasn’t just an attack on a president, or even his family. America itself was under siege.

In this book, Eric offers an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of life in the Trump world; how he took the reins of a multibillion-dollar empire at thirty-three years old; enlightening stories from real estate to the boardroom of The Celebrity Apprentice, and the chaos of the campaign trail.


My Review:
Under Siege is an autobiography of Eric Trump's life, covering his childhood but mostly focusing on the last ten years or so. He's fiercely proud of his father and defended the integrity of the Trump real estate business (which he runs). He made comments about the various cases and underhanded things that Donald Trump's opponents did to try to ruin the business and make his father lose the elections. It's more insights into how the lawsuits impacted the family than details about why specific rulings were not just or in line with normal legal procedures. Overall, it was an interesting read and I'd recommend it to anyone not solidly against President Trump simply because he's Trump.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Tell Me Where It Hurts by Rachel Zoffness

Tell Me Where It Hurts
by Rachel Zoffness

ISBN-13: 9781538758144
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: March 24, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Every one of us will experience pain, be it back pain, the pain of childbirth, or living in an aging body. Not a single one of us will escape. But what if everything you thought you knew about pain was wrong?

We’ve been told that pain is purely physical, something to do just with bones and body parts. The truth is that pain is constructed by the brain – influenced not just by injuries, but also by emotions, expectations, and environment. This means you have infinitely more control over pain than you ever imagined: because if the brain can change, pain can change.

Rooted in cutting-edge neuroscience and rich patient stories, Dr. Rachel Zoffness completely upends the myths we’ve been sold – finally reconnecting physical and emotional pain, and providing a roadmap for healing. The fact is that chronic pain is treatable. But to do that, we must target the whole person – not just a body part. A groundbreaking, revolutionary book that finally offers access to the world’s most powerful painkiller: YOU.


My Review:
Tell Me Where It Hurts describes non-pill or -surgery methods that help to control pain. We've been told that pain comes from physical damage, and pain medication and things like surgery are what's needed to stop the pain. But the author gave examples of how there can be damage but no pain or pain with no obvious cause. She also showed how emotions and expectations ("this is going to hurt") can make pain worse or better.

We can change how we view our pain and how bad it will be. The author provided questions that help the reader identify situations and thoughts that make the pain worse and actions and thoughts that can help reduce pain. She also suggested using methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or taking actions like increasing positive social interactions. She provided enough information that the reader can make small, impactful changes that add up over time to reduce your pain. Overall, I'd recommend this informative book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Invincible Brain by Majid Fotuhi

The Invincible Brain
by Majid Fotuhi

ISBN-13: 9780063435711
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Harper Wave
Released: March 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In just 12 weeks, you can take major steps to prevent and reverse cognitive decline, boost memory, and enhance mental sharpness at any age. A leading neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University unveils a groundbreaking glimpse into the remarkable, resilient brain, and offers a science-backed plan to unlock its true potential.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, world-renowned neurologist and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins, is leading the charge in revolutionizing how we understand human intelligence, brain health, and age-related cognitive decline. In this pioneering book, he reveals the true wonder of how the brain works and its infinite potential for growth and change. Supported by over 35 years of original research, The Invincible Brain demonstrates how targeted lifestyle changes can prevent, treat, and even reverse mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ADHD, and concussion symptoms.

Dr. Fotuhi’s 12-week program is backed by extraordinary clinical results, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, showing that more than 80% of patients achieve exceptional improvements in memory, focus, and other cognitive functions. In elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment, MRIs show a 3% increase in the volume of the hippocampus, the key brain region for learning and memory.

This actionable guide provides a step-by-step formula for unlocking your brain's hidden potential, building resilience, and maximizing mental acuity at any age. You’ll learn the Five Pillars of the Brain, ways to optimize fitness, sleep, nutrition, mindset, and brain training for lifelong cognitive vitality. Also, you'll learn the truth about dementia and Alzheimer’s, including the latest in testing and treatment. The Invincible Brain delivers everything you need to empower your brain to thrive—in as little as 12 weeks. Your smarter, sharper future begins now.


My Review:
The Invincible Brain explains how to improve your mental abilities at any age, but it's especially for people concerned about brain fog, poor memory, etc. The first part of the book read like an extended pep talk: there are different types of intelligence, and you're intelligent in some ways while other people excel in different ways. Everyone can improve their memory by using brain training and memorization tricks. Then the author got into the details about his 12 week program, and he really did give enough information that you can do it on your own. He broke it down into steps to take and covered several main areas: better sleep, good nutrition, physical exercise, brain training exercises, and ways to deal with stress and negative mindsets. He sometimes talked about scientific studies, but it's clearly explained for those not into science details. The author also gave examples of people who benefited from his program and what they did to improve their brain. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those worried about getting dementia or who feel like their brain isn't working as well as it used to.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt

Art Cure
by Daisy Fancourt

ISBN-13: 9781250364531
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Celadon Books
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From cradle to grave, engaging in the arts has remarkable effects on our health and well-being. Music supports the architectural development of children’s brains. Artistic hobbies help our brains to stay resilient against dementia. Dance and magic tricks build new neural pathways for people with brain injuries. Arts and music act just like drugs to decrease depression, stress, and pain, reducing our dependence on medication. Going to live music events, museums, exhibitions, and the theater decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty. Engaging in the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body, even helping us to live longer.

This isn’t sensationalism, it’s the results of decades of studies gathering data from neuroimaging, molecular biomarkers, wearable sensors, cognitive assessments, and electronic health records. From professor Daisy Fancourt, an award-winning scientist and science communicator and director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, this book will fundamentally change the way you value and engage with the arts in your daily life and give you the tools to optimize how, when, and what arts you engage in to achieve your health goals.


My Review:
Art Cure is about how doing art can help a person's health. The author has personally researched how arts can impact our health, from studies to see if more frequent arts engagement leads to better health outcomes over the years to specific experiments done to see how calming music can help in hospitals and similar ideas. She also included experiments done by others that show the impact that viewing or doing various arts (reading, dancing, making or listening to music, visiting the theater, etc.) can have on health outcomes. She gave examples, from singing to a premature baby to help the baby stay calm and thrive to teaching magic tricks as a way to make physical therapy fun for kids.

The author summarized how the various studies were set up and the results but also usually gave an example of a specific person to show how the principle has worked out in someone's actual, real life. She didn't get deep into the science except to explain just how much we could really conclude from the various studies. She ended each chapter by suggesting various ways we could practically use the information in that chapter: how long do we do an activity, how frequently, and what sort of arts might have the desired effect. I had no trouble following the author's points and found the information both interesting and something that I could easily act upon. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.