Books that tell you how emotions affect health

Health books December 2021 show us how our bodies protect us from disease and how Indian men of all ages deal with mental health issues

Health books December 2021 show us how our bodies protect us from disease and how Indian men of all ages deal with mental health issues

“Immune” by Philip Dettmer;
Hodder & Stoughton

Creator of the science popularization channel on YouTube,
Kurzgesagt – In brief , author Philip Dettmer has released his first book that deals with our body’s fighting mechanism. The explicit title
Immune, deals with the most complex system of the body, described as the second after the human brain, without which no one can survive beyond a few days.

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Dettmer takes us on a journey of the constant war that every human body fights every second under the skin. According to him, boosting the immune system is “actually nonsense” because the parasites sneak past the body’s defences. It explains how this happens and also how viruses – including the coronavirus – work.

The book is like a crash course in understanding the challenges of the immune system. From simple injuries to irritable throat infections, persistent headaches or growing annoyance, Dettmer shares stories of invasion, strategy, defeat and the sacrifice the body makes to protect us. Each chapter, complete with immersive descriptions and colorful graphics, delves into a component of the immune system, including antibodies and inflammation from viruses, bacteria, allergies and cancer.

Both scary and interesting, the book makes us realize how not only does the body defend us against disease, but sometimes our body’s defense system can also be our downfall.

‘Vipassana’ by Shonali Sabherwal;
Random penguin house

If you want to sharpen your mind or train it to better observe your thoughts, meditation is the way to go.

Shonali Sabherwal’s book
Vipassana is for beginners looking to start meditation. The detailed guide teaches you how to occupy a state of equanimity. The author is a macrobiotic nutritionist and chef from Mumbai, who has been practicing Vipassana for 25 years. She shares nuggets from her life to demonstrate how since her first vipassana lesson in 1996, her ability to pursue her dreams has grown tremendously.

Meditation is a timeless secret and helps you take control of your life, she writes

‘The Invisible Majority: India’s Handicapped Handicapped’; by CK Meena and VR Ferose;
Hatchet India

The authors sensitively portrayed the lives of people with disabilities who face challenges while showing their ability to achieve something in life. Insightful and informative, the book navigates a range of topics from history and laws to widespread social attitudes.

The authors record and amplify the diverse and vibrant voices of people with disabilities and also shine a spotlight on those who are inextricably linked to their lives, such as healthcare professionals, educators, trainers, employers, carers and activists. .

The book aims to change people’s perspective, trigger societal transformation, and strive to make our society more inclusive.

“To The Bravest Person I Know” by Ayesha Chenoy;
penguin india

As a series of poems, with a verse letter running as a footnote from start to finish, Ayesha Chenoy’s Mental Health Storybook is for people of all ages. It tells us that depression is as normal as fear and feeling insecure is also normal.

The author explores the whole construction of the “normal”, that which is created by society. And, she writes, at the end of the day, it takes courage to conquer those emotions that make you feel less than “normal.” The author cuts through the self-righteous dross and gives a truthful and liberating account of how to deal with life’s ups and downs.

“Dear men”; by Prachi Gangwani;
Bloomsbury India

Dear men shows how Indian men of all ages deal with mental health issues, from gender roles and sexual boundaries to online dating, marriage and the relevance of romance. Everyone is looking for love and harmonious relationships, but the cards for getting there are different for men and women and success and failure affect them differently too, she writes.

Mostly direct and ironic, the book is an engaging investigation into the minds of men and hopes to start an honest and open dialogue with Indian men about movements like the #MeToo campaign. Gangwani, a psychologist and family counselor, tries to understand how men’s wiring is different from women’s when it comes to managing emotions and reactions, in order to work towards easily resolving conflicts in their lives.