What's a good comprehensive book on the basics of personal health?
December 22, 2010 8:22 PM Subscribe
What's a good comprehensive book on the basics of personal health?
Most bestsellers on personal health focus on one health-improvement strategy, like nutrition or exercise. This is exactly what some people need, but what I want is a book that steps back and gives a comprehensive survey of the basics. It would cover subjects such as:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Stress management
- Sleep
- Medical treatment
- Disease prevention
- Hygiene
There are two main things I'm trying to get from such a book:
- A comprehensive view, to ensure I'm not neglecting any one area entirely (e.g. is the list above even complete?)
- A sense of relative importance, both within and between the above categories. What is crucial to do right, and what is OK to slack off a bit with? How does the 80/20 rule apply to the above subjects?
Once I have an overall mental framework for prioritizing these factors, I'll then be ready to delve deeper into an individual subject.
I would prefer a mainstream, boring, evidence-based text, rather than something experimental, alternative, or faddish.
Any recommendations?
Most bestsellers on personal health focus on one health-improvement strategy, like nutrition or exercise. This is exactly what some people need, but what I want is a book that steps back and gives a comprehensive survey of the basics. It would cover subjects such as:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Stress management
- Sleep
- Medical treatment
- Disease prevention
- Hygiene
There are two main things I'm trying to get from such a book:
- A comprehensive view, to ensure I'm not neglecting any one area entirely (e.g. is the list above even complete?)
- A sense of relative importance, both within and between the above categories. What is crucial to do right, and what is OK to slack off a bit with? How does the 80/20 rule apply to the above subjects?
Once I have an overall mental framework for prioritizing these factors, I'll then be ready to delve deeper into an individual subject.
I would prefer a mainstream, boring, evidence-based text, rather than something experimental, alternative, or faddish.
Any recommendations?
A lot of health insurance companies give out the Healthwise Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/1877930296/ref=aw_d_cr_books). It's a pretty comprehensive resource, but it does not specifically cover hygiene.
My fiancé got a copy from the VA and it's nice to have around. If you have any kind of health background, the information in these books is going to be largely self-evident, but that's universal and not specific to this book. Plus, you can pick it up for 1 cent on Amazon.
posted by charmcityblues at 11:45 PM on December 22, 2010
My fiancé got a copy from the VA and it's nice to have around. If you have any kind of health background, the information in these books is going to be largely self-evident, but that's universal and not specific to this book. Plus, you can pick it up for 1 cent on Amazon.
posted by charmcityblues at 11:45 PM on December 22, 2010
Best answer: Accessible and actionable!
posted by thinkpiece at 8:23 AM on December 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by thinkpiece at 8:23 AM on December 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Mehmet Oz's books, including "You: The Owner's Manual" or something like that, are an easy way to download science-based info into your head. They look dopey at first, with cartoons and stuff, but have a lot of solid info.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:00 AM on December 23, 2010
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:00 AM on December 23, 2010
The futurist Ray Kurzweil wrote a book that is a metastudy of sorts. I found it informative.
posted by vegetable100% at 3:51 PM on December 23, 2010
posted by vegetable100% at 3:51 PM on December 23, 2010
I noticed that you've marked Dr. Oz's book as the best answer. I haven't read the recommended book, so I don't know whether it contains this sort of information, but you should know that based on his public appearances, a lot of scientific and medical experts consider him a bit of a quack. He has recommended colon cleansing, which all good evidence says is nonsense. His wife is a "reiki master," and he has told Oprah audiences that he uses reiki during open heart surgery (that post also contains a list of some of his other outlandish "medical" claims).
Again, it's possible that his book is full of sound science and good information. But if you read anything that sounds fishy or too good to be true, check it against other, reliable sources to be sure. (I'd recommend doing your own research for medical advice anyone gives you, but especially when the source is someone who has given questionable advice in the past.)
posted by decathecting at 8:01 AM on December 24, 2010
Again, it's possible that his book is full of sound science and good information. But if you read anything that sounds fishy or too good to be true, check it against other, reliable sources to be sure. (I'd recommend doing your own research for medical advice anyone gives you, but especially when the source is someone who has given questionable advice in the past.)
posted by decathecting at 8:01 AM on December 24, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks decathecting; I will keep that in mind when I read the book.
posted by lunchbox at 10:44 AM on December 25, 2010
posted by lunchbox at 10:44 AM on December 25, 2010
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posted by Sara C. at 8:56 PM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]