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.

The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy by Ari Whitten, MS

The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy: Revised and Updated
by Ari Whitten, MS

ISBN-13: 9780593736555
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Rodale Books
Released: January 13, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
REVISED AND UPDATED SECOND EDITION • Harness the power of red light therapy to achieve younger-looking skin, accelerate healing, boost energy levels, support fat loss, amplify the benefits of exercise, and more! This comprehensive guide is updated with the latest research and insights from leading scientists.

Light has the power to heal your body and optimize your health. There are over six thousand peer-reviewed scientific studies showing the proven health benefits of red and near-infrared light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (the science of using light to modulate biology). In The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy, Ari Whitten, MS, cuts through all of the confusion around this complex topic. He explores the science behind this therapy and reveals how to harness its power to improve your health, your body, and your life.

The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy provides critical information on how to achieve the best results—determining the proper dose for every type of treatment, avoiding common mistakes that can undermine your results, and identifying devices that are worth buying while steering clear of those that are underpowered, overpriced, or ineffective.


My Review:
The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy explains the science behind using red and infrared light for a wide variety of health benefits and how to select a device suited to your end purpose (more surface-level, skin benefits or deeper, like helping joints or muscles). I've previously read the first edition of this book, and this second edition included a lot more information, especially up-to-date, detailed information on the latest scientific research. These sections get technical. However, the book is designed so you can jump over sections that don't interest you. This also means that a lot of information was repeated (in more detail in some places and less detail in others). I ended up skimming sections that got repetitive. Overall, though, this is a good resource if you're interested in using red light therapy, especially in optimizing your red light therapy results. The author didn't specifically recommend very many devices in the book as he felt the market was changing so quickly. He provided a link to go to for the latest recommendations.


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 Life Machines by Daria Mochly-Rosen; Emanuel Rosen

The Life Machines
by Daria Mochly-Rosen; Emanuel Rosen

ISBN-13: 9781668057988
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon Element
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Improve your lifelong health and well-being by understanding what mitochondria really do for you, and how through small lifestyle changes, these awe-inspiring powerhouses can better your life.

Meet your mitochondria—tiny but mighty organelles that are the true engines of life. These organelles are popularly known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” but new research shows that the mitochondria do more than just convert food into energy—they’re orchestrators of critical functions that keep you healthy and alive.

This groundbreaking book by a leading scientist from Stanford University School of Medicine and her husband, a bestselling author, is the first to provide a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand look at mitochondria and their vital role in human health. It is based on the premise that healthy mitochondria are the key to healthy cells and, thus, to healthy tissues, healthy organs, and a healthy body. The Life Machines provides practical and fundamental principles that you can use to unlock your body’s full potential, including how sleep, stress, exercise, toxins, and diet affect mitochondria function. Dysfunction of these organelles has been linked to diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, depression, autism spectrum disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and infertility

Packed with surprising facts, you’ll read about “mitochondrial Eve” who lived in Africa 200,000 years ago; tiny rotors that spin inside your body at fantastic speed; how cancer cells steal mitochondria from immune cells; how mitochondria help shape a baby’s fingers and brain; how mitochondria in your thighs are linked to your cognitive capacity, and more.

Skillfully weaving cutting-edge scientific discoveries, expert testimonies, personal stories, and practical insights, The Life Machines is inspiring and hopeful, empowering you to adopt lifestyle changes that will benefit the smallest—and yet most crucial—parts of the human body.


My Review:
The Life Machines is about the functions that mitochondria perform, things recent research has discovered about mitochondria, and how we can improve (or maintain) good mitochondria function through good sleep, exercise, relaxation, and diet. Also, why we should avoid chronic stress and toxins from the mitochondrial viewpoint. One author, Daria, is a researcher and provided the latest scientific information while Emanuel wrote this information in ways that anyone can understand, explaining things in both scientific terms and then through analogies. It was interesting to learn how much more mitochondria do for you than produce energy and the latest research on how exercise and such affect your mitochondria for good and bad. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting science 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 Biology of Trauma by Aimie Apigian

The Biology of Trauma
by Aimie Apigian

ISBN-13: 9781637746233
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: BenBella Books
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The latest research on how trauma impacts our bodies on a cellular level. Traditional medicine still mistakes subtle signs of trauma for stress, anxiety, or chronic disease—sometimes even retraumatizing patients with outdated and misguided methods. Treatment plans that focus on the mind are only addressing the downstream effects. Likewise, common medical approaches to manage symptoms fail to explore root causes and promote genuine recovery.

If we want to truly heal, we need to understand trauma as something happening inside of the body—not as a singular external event. Gaining clarity on how our bodies hold onto experiences, impacting both our physical health and our ability to maintain healthy behaviors and relationships, is crucial. That’s where Dr. Aimie Apigian’s integrative, revolutionary approach comes in.

With a decade of clinical research, approachable storytelling, and real-life examples, The Biology of Trauma will show ways to identify commonly overlooked trauma symptoms like lethargy, fogginess, and unexplained worry and to recognize how emotional pain stored in the body affects overall health on a cellular level, even for people with functionally successful lives. This information can help prevent trauma-induced changes in your biology that suppress the cycle of recovery. Lern to work with your nervous system to safely heal—without risk of retraumatization.

Perfect for both individuals seeking personal growth and health professionals improving their practice, The Biology of Trauma will help you gain deep insights into your own mind, body, and healing journey.


My Review:
The Biology of Trauma explains how trauma impacts our bodies in a very specific sequence of steps designed to protect us long term. The first half of the book explained these steps in detail, how to recognize where you are in the sequence, and what to do so you don't get stuck in a trauma response. The author went into enough depth in the science (explaining how the body reacts down to a cellular level) for professionals but used analogies and clear examples to help non-medical readers understand the material. I found this information very useful because I can now recognize when I'm hitting the Overwhelm part of the sequence and can change things (also explained in the book) so I don't go into a trauma response, or at least don't linger there. She pulled information together that I've heard before and tied it together in a way that made a lot of sense. I'd recommend this book just for this section.

I was disappointed in the second half, in which the author took some of the cases that she'd used as examples and described how she treated them to help them recover. Unfortunately, her approach is individualized and you basically have to sign up for her courses. For example, she said that these clients went through a series of somatic exercises/movements that are foundational to recovery but didn't describe them beyond a few examples, like one woman needed to do hands-and-knees crawling for weeks. While this section gave an idea of things to check out (nutrition deficiencies, etc.) and what sort of things are done in the author's program, it's not something you're equipped to do on your own by the end of the 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.

Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, Revised and Updated

Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, Revised and Updated by Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford M.D. & Angela Lunde M.A.

ISBN-13: 9798887702834
Hardcover: 312 pages
Publisher: Mayo Clinic Press
Released: Aug. 26, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Help to prevent, slow, and understand Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias with this guide from the experts at Mayo Clinic. This essential resource includes key information about the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment, as well as factors that may affect your cognitive health. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, other types also affect adults worldwide, causing loss of cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning and judgment. In this fully revised and updated third edition of Mayo Clinic’s on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias leading experts at Mayo Clinic answer patients and caregivers’ most pressing questions, including:

Are there ways you can lower your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias? Can they be prevented?

Can you live well with dementia? If so, how?

How do sleeplessness, hearing loss, social isolation, and other risk factors contribute to cognitive decline?

How can exercise and healthy foods preserve brain function?

What are the neurological changes that can occur in the brain, and how is normal aging different from aging with dementia?

How are blood and genetic biomarker tests breaking new ground in diagnosing dementia?

Why is it increasingly important to identify dementia in its early stages?

What are the unique signs and symptoms of Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal degeneration, vascular cognitive impairment, and other dementias?

What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Can new and emerging medications slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease?

What day-to-day coping strategies can help people live well with dementia?

How can caregivers care for themselves?


My Review:
Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias is a reference book on the various dementias. It primary talked to the reader as if they were the one getting (or concerned about getting) dementia. Some of the last chapters were aimed at caregivers, covering how to best interact with someone with dementia and how to take care of themselves, too. There was a lot of repeated information. For example, an early chapter gave a good amount of information about the different types of dementias, but this information was repeated and expanded upon in a chapter covering each type of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal degeneration, vascular cognitive impairment, etc.).

The authors talked about possible causes of dementia, risk factors for it, the symptoms and progression, ways to test for it, and treatments for it. They also talked about things that could look like dementia but are caused by things like drug side effects. I appreciated that they covered nutrition and exercise recommendations and didn't focus solely on the drugs. 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.